Chronic cannabis users, even after a period of abstinence, are more prone to false memories—mistaking events that never occurred for real ones. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the study found that abstinent cannabis users showed reduced brain activity in areas critical for memory processing, including the lateral and medial temporal lobe, as well as in parietal and frontal regions involved in attention and monitoring. Cannabis consumption was inversely correlated with medial temporal lobe activity, indicating a specific detriment to episodic memory. These results suggest long-lasting impairments in memory and cognitive control mechanisms that support reality monitoring.
People who find music more rewarding also tend to experience deeper states of absorption—complete immersion that can involve losing track of time or self-consciousness. In two samples totaling 920 participants, scores on the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire and the Absorption in Music Scale were strongly correlated (r = 0.78). Four absorption-related items were added to create an extended version of the reward questionnaire. Statistical analyses confirmed the extended measure's reliability, suggesting that including an absorption facet improves the characterization of individual differences in music-related reward and pleasure.