Children who have been prenatally exposed to substance abuse, specifically marijuana use, has lead to a significant increase in impulsivity. One possible explanation for the findings of increased impulsivity is that prenatal marijuana exposure affects the limbic system. This could lead to changes in arousal reflected in increased impulsivity. 

University of Illinois at Chicago

Effects of prenatal drug exposure on children included:
- Deficits in cognitive outcomes
- Attention deficits
- Sensory processing deficits 
- Impulsivity 

Effects of Prenatal Drug Exposure on Children 

Leech, S. L., Richardson, G. A., Goldschmidt, L., & Day, N. L. (1999). Prenatal substance exposure: effects on attention and impulsivity of 6-year-olds. Neurotoxicology and teratology, 21(2), 109-118.

Prenatal Substance Exposure: Effects on Attention and Impulsivity of 6-Year-Olds

Children who have been prenatally exposed to drugs displayed poorer visual response control on a distractibility task, with greater exposure linked to less ability to sustain effort and stay on tasks presented visually.

Attention Deficits in Children Prenatally Exposed to Drugs 

Research has identified persistent specific cognitive deficits in children who have been exposed to drugs prenatally, specifically in perceptual reasoning IQ, a nonverbal executive function that reflects abstract categorical reasoning, an important cognitive function implicated in decision making related to drug use. 

Deficits in Cognitive Outcomes in Children Prenatally Exposed to Drugs

Children who have been exposed to substance abuse prenatally have ranked significantly lower in auditory processing, as well as other sensory processing. Both sensory and neurocognitive functions are related to the development of substance abuse later in life, as prenatal drug exposure has a major negative impact on executive functions and reward systems.

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