How early-life cannabis exposure may change the developing brain and thinking skills
Effects of Early-life Cannabinoid Exposure on Prefrontal Circuitry and Cognitive Behavior across Development
This work looks at whether exposure to common cannabis components (THC and CBD) around the time of birth changes how prefrontal brain circuits form and how cognitive behaviors emerge, using mice to model possible effects for children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321651 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will expose mouse pups to THC and CBD during prenatal and early postnatal periods to mimic cannabis use in pregnancy and breastfeeding. They will use advanced imaging (including two-photon microscopy), circuit recordings, and behavioral tests at multiple developmental stages to track changes in the medial prefrontal cortex and related behaviors. The team will compare single and combined cannabinoid exposures and map sensitive windows when the brain is most affected. Findings aim to link specific circuit changes to long-term cognitive and emotional outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to pregnant or breastfeeding people who use cannabis and to children who were exposed to cannabis before birth or shortly after delivery.
Not a fit: People who were never exposed to cannabis during pregnancy or lactation, or whose health concerns are unrelated to early-life cannabinoid exposure, are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help doctors give clearer guidance to pregnant and breastfeeding people about cannabis use and point to brain changes that might be targeted for early intervention.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies and some human observational data link prenatal cannabis exposure to later cognitive and emotional problems, but detailed circuit-level mechanisms remain largely untested and novel.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Che, Alicia Yue — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Che, Alicia Yue
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.