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Karunakaran KD, Pascale M, Ozana N, Potter K, Pachas GN, Evins AE, Gilman JM. Intoxication due to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is characterized by disrupted prefrontal cortex activity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1481-1490. [PMID: 38714786 PMCID: PMC11251178 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01876-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024]
Abstract
Neural states of impairment from intoxicating substances, including cannabis, are poorly understood. Cannabinoid 1 receptors, the main target of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary intoxicating cannabinoid in cannabis, are densely localized within prefrontal cortex; therefore, prefrontal brain regions are key locations to examine brain changes that characterize acute intoxication. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study in adults, aged 18-55 years, who use cannabis regularly, to determine the effects of acute intoxication on prefrontal cortex resting-state measures, assessed with portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Participants received oral THC (10-80 mg, individually dosed to overcome tolerance and achieve acute intoxication) and identical placebo, randomized for order; 185 adults were randomized and 128 completed both study days and had usable data. THC was associated with expected increases in subjective intoxication ratings (ES = 35.30, p < 0.001) and heart rate (ES = 11.15, p = 0.001). THC was associated with decreased correlations and anticorrelations in static resting-state functional connectivity within the prefrontal cortex relative to placebo, with weakest correlations and anticorrelations among those who reported greater severity of intoxication (RSFC between medial PFC-ventromedial PFC and DEQ scores, r = 0.32, p < 0.001; RSFC between bilateral mPFC and DEQ scores, r = -0.28, p = 0.001). Relative to placebo, THC was associated with increased variability (or reduced stability) in dynamic resting-state functional connectivity of the prefrontal cortex at p = 0.001, consistent across a range of window sizes. Finally, using frequency power spectrum analyses, we observed that relative to placebo, THC was associated with widespread reduced spectral power within the prefrontal cortex across the 0.073-0.1 Hz frequency range at p < 0.039. These neural features suggest a disruptive influence of THC on the neural dynamics of the prefrontal cortex and may underlie cognitive impairing effects of THC that are detectable with portable imaging. This study is registered in Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03655717).
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Affiliation(s)
- Keerthana Deepti Karunakaran
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Pascale
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nisan Ozana
- MGH/HST Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Faculty of Engineering and The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel
| | - Kevin Potter
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gladys N Pachas
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Eden Evins
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jodi M Gilman
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- MGH/HST Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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Das S, Singh LK, Tikka SK, Spoorthy MS, Mandal S, Soni PK, Nandan NK. Cognitive impairment in 'non-user' first-degree relatives of persons with cannabis dependence syndrome: A pilot, endophenotype study. Early Interv Psychiatry 2024; 18:346-354. [PMID: 37726210 DOI: 10.1111/eip.13470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cannabis use disorders are global emerging problem nowadays, with high prevalence and morbidity. Cognitive impairments, and also corresponding genetic vulnerability, has been fairly replicated in individuals with cannabis dependence. However, there are few studies that assess cognitive functioning as an endophenotype or a trait marker for cannabis dependence. While the primary objective of this study was to assess the endophenotype pattern of cognitive dysfunction in cannabis dependence, assessing the association between the degree of cognitive functioning, and their socio-demographic and clinical variables in the cannabis dependence patients and their first-degree relatives was the secondary objective. METHODOLOGY We compared cognitive functioning across three groups- patients with cannabis dependence syndrome, their 'non-user' first-degree relatives and healthy controls, with 30 participants in each group. Five cognitive domains- attention and concentration, verbal fluency, memory, visuospatial ability and executive functions were assessed. We assessed for endophenotype pattern of statistical significance in pairwise analyses of Kruskal-Wallis test, which was corrected for multiple comparisons. Subsequently, correlation analysis to assess association of cognitive impairment with socio-demographic and clinical variables was conducted. RESULTS Although impairment in attention and executive functions also was seen in patients with cannabis dependence, endophenotype pattern of statistical significance in pairwise analyses, with impairment in first-degree relatives too, was seen in all sub-scores of verbal fluency and verbal memory. None of the correlations were significant. CONCLUSION 'Non-user' first-degree relatives of patients with cannabis dependence too show significant cognitive impairment. Verbal fluency and verbal memory are possible endophenotypes or trait markers for cannabis dependence syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrayasi Das
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, India
| | - Lokesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, India
| | | | | | | | | | - Neethu K Nandan
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, India
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3
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Abstract
Cannabis and classic psychedelics are controlled substances with emerging evidence of efficacy in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric illnesses. Cannabis has largely not been regarded as having psychedelic effects in contemporary literature, despite many examples of historical use along with classic psychedelics to attain altered states of consciousness. Research into the "psychedelic" effects of cannabis, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in particular, could prove helpful for assessing potential therapeutic indications and elucidating the mechanism of action of both cannabis and classic psychedelics. This review aggregates and evaluates the literature assessing the capacity of cannabis to yield the perceptual changes, aversiveness, and mystical experiences more typically associated with classic psychedelics such as psilocybin. This review also provides a brief contrast of neuroimaging findings associated with the acute effects of cannabis and psychedelics. The available evidence suggests that high-THC cannabis may be able to elicit psychedelic effects, but that these effects may not have been observed in recent controlled research studies due to the doses, set, and settings commonly used. Research is needed to investigate the effects of high doses of THC in the context utilized in therapeutic studies of psychedelics aimed to occasion psychedelic and/or therapeutic experiences. If cannabis can reliably generate psychedelic experiences under these conditions, high-THC dose cannabis treatments should be explored as potential adjunctive treatments for psychiatric disorders and be considered as an active comparator in clinical trials involving traditional psychedelic medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wolinsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Frederick Streeter Barrett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ryan Vandrey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Pelgrim TAD, Ramaekers JG, Wall MB, Freeman TP, Bossong MG. Acute effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on resting state connectivity networks and impact of COMT genotype: A multi-site pharmacological fMRI study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 251:110925. [PMID: 37598453 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis produces various acute psychotropic effects, with marked individual differences. Cannabis use is a risk factor for developing psychotic disorders. The main component responsible for these effects is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Here we investigated the neural basis of acute THC effects and its modulation by catechol-methyl-transferase (COMT) Val158Met genotype. METHODS Resting state functional MRI data of healthy occasional cannabis users were combined and re-analyzed from three double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging studies (total N=87). Functional connectivity after placebo and THC was compared in three functional networks (salience, executive and default mode network) and a network implicated in psychosis (the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network). COMT genotype modulation of subjective effects and connectivity was examined. RESULTS THC reduced connectivity in the salience network, specifically from the right insula to both the left insula and anterior cingulate cortex. We found a trend towards decreased connectivity in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network after THC. COMT genotype modulated subjective effects of THC, with strongest dysphoric reactions in Met/Met individuals. In addition, reduced connectivity after THC was demonstrated in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network of Met/Met individuals only. CONCLUSIONS In this large multisite study we found that THC robustly decreases connectivity in the salience network, involved in processing awareness and salient information. Connectivity changes in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network may reflect the acute psychotic-like effects of THC. COMT genotype modulation of THC's impact on subjective effects and functional connectivity provides further evidence for involvement of prefrontal dopamine levels in the acute effects of cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teuntje A D Pelgrim
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Wall
- Invicro London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK; Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tom P Freeman
- Addiction and Mental Health Group (AIM), University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Matthijs G Bossong
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Floyd LJ, Brown K. Perceived neighborhood disorder as a moderator of the relationship between marijuana use and disinhibition in a sample of emerging adult African American females. J Ethn Subst Abuse 2023:1-15. [PMID: 37270673 PMCID: PMC10694336 DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2023.2195691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Disinhibition is associated with myriad risk-taking behaviors and adverse outcomes. Both marijuana use and poor neighborhood conditions have been associated with disinhibition. However, the extent to which neighborhood disorder interacts with marijuana use to influence disinhibition has not been studied, extensively. A better understanding of these relationships has implications for designing more effective tailored place-based interventions that aim to reduce risk taking behaviors and related adverse social and health outcomes associated with marijuana use. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the interactive effects of perceived neighborhood disorder and marijuana use on disinhibition. The sample included 120 African American female residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods (Mage = 23.6 ± 3.46). We employed hierarchical linear regression analysis to examine the interactive effects of marijuana use and perceived neighborhood disorder on disinhibition, while controlling for age and education. The interaction term was marginally significant (b = 5.66; t(109) = 1.72, p = .08). Next, the conditional effects were explored. Results indicated the association of marijuana use with disinhibition was stronger for females in the higher neighborhood disorder group, compared to those in the lower neighborhood disorder group (10.40 and 4.51, respectively). Our findings support the need for more research on the potential of neighborhood disorder to amplify the effects of marijuana use on disinhibition and related neurobehavioral traits. The identification of contextual moderators and high-risk sub-groups will aid in the design of more tailored place-based interventions that aim to reduce risk-taking behavior among those most vulnerable.
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Lorenzetti V, Gaillard A, Thomson D, Englund A, Freeman TP. Effects of cannabinoids on resting state functional brain connectivity: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 145:105014. [PMID: 36563921 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.105014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis products are widely used for medical and non-medical reasons worldwide and vary in content of cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Resting state functional connectivity offers a powerful tool to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on the human brain. We systematically reviewed functional neuroimaging evidence of connectivity during acute cannabinoid administration. A pre-registered (PROSPERO ID: CRD42020184264) systematic review of 13 studies comprising 318 participants (mean age of 25 years) was conducted and reported using the PRISMA checklist. During THC and THCv exposure vs placebo reduced connectivity with the NAcc was widely reported. Limited evidence shows that such effects are offset by co-administration of CBD. NAcc-frontal region connectivity was associated with intoxication levels. Cannabis intoxication vs placebo was associated with lower striatal-ACC connectivity. CBD and CBDv vs placebo were associated with both higher and lower connectivity between striatal-prefrontal/other regions. Overall, cannabis and cannabinoids change functional connectivity in the human brain during resting state as a function of the type of cannabinoid examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Lorenzetti
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Australia.
| | - Alexandra Gaillard
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Australia
| | - Diny Thomson
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Science, Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Australia
| | - Amir Englund
- Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Tom P Freeman
- Addiction and Mental Health Group, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Bath, UK
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Viator RE, Wu YJ, Viator AS. Testing the validity and reliability of the Matching Familiar Figures Test-2021: An updated behavioral measure of reflection–impulsivity. Front Psychol 2022; 13:977808. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) is a well-known and extensively used behavioral measure of reflection-impulsivity. However, the instrument has several deficiencies, including images designed for school-age children in the United States during the 1960s. Most importantly, an adult version of the instrument is currently unavailable and the lack of a single repository for the images raises questions regarding the MFFT’s validity and reliability. We developed a 21st century version of the MFFT using images that are familiar to adults and reside in a freely accessible repository. We conducted two studies examining validity and reliability issues. In Study 1, participants interacting with the MFFT-2021, versus those interacting with the original MFFT20, spent more time on the task, took more time in making their first response, and were more likely to complete the task without errors, even though the average number of errors was higher than the comparison group. The coherence of these results is evidence of convergent validity. Regarding predictive validity, the MFFT-2021 remained a reliable predictor of rational thinking, such that participants who demonstrated more reflection (less impulsivity) tended to avoid rational thinking errors. Also, performance on the MFFT-2021 predicted higher quality judgments in processing job characteristic cues with embedded interactions, a form of configural information processing. We also found evidence of concurrent validity: performance on the MFFT-2021 differed in a predictable manner for participants grouped by their performance on the Cognitive Reflection Test. In Study 2, we tested discriminant validity by comparing participant performance on the MFFT-2021 to their performance on the Information Sampling Task (IST), another behavioral measure of reflection-impulsivity used in studies of psychopharmacological and addiction behaviors. For our participants (undergraduate business students), we found that the MFFT was a stronger predictor of performance on rational thinking tasks, and, contrary to prior studies, our exploratory factor analysis identified separate factors for the MFFT-2021 and the IST, supporting discriminant validity, indicating that these two instruments measure different subtypes of reflection-impulsivity.
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Wall MB, Freeman TP, Hindocha C, Demetriou L, Ertl N, Freeman AM, Jones AP, Lawn W, Pope R, Mokrysz C, Solomons D, Statton B, Walker HR, Yamamori Y, Yang Z, Yim JL, Nutt DJ, Howes OD, Curran HV, Bloomfield MA. Individual and combined effects of cannabidiol and Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on striato-cortical connectivity in the human brain. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:732-744. [PMID: 35596578 PMCID: PMC9150138 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221092506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the two major constituents of cannabis with contrasting mechanisms of action. THC is the major psychoactive, addiction-promoting, and psychotomimetic compound, while CBD may have opposite effects. The brain effects of these drugs alone and in combination are poorly understood. In particular, the striatum is implicated in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders, but it is unclear how THC and CBD influence striato-cortical connectivity. AIMS To examine effects of THC, CBD, and THC + CBD on functional connectivity of striatal sub-divisions (associative, limbic and sensorimotor). METHOD Resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) was used across two within-subjects, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies, with a unified analysis approach. RESULTS Study 1 (N = 17; inhaled cannabis containing 8 mg THC, 8 mg THC + 10 mg CBD or placebo) showed strong disruptive effects of both THC and THC + CBD on connectivity in the associative and sensorimotor networks, but a specific effect of THC in the limbic striatum network which was not present in the THC + CBD condition. In Study 2 (N = 23, oral 600 mg CBD, placebo), CBD increased connectivity in the associative network, but produced only relatively minor disruptions in the limbic and sensorimotor networks. OUTCOMES THC strongly disrupts striato-cortical networks, but this effect is mitigated by co-administration of CBD in the limbic striatum network. Oral CBD administered has a more complex effect profile of relative increases and decreases in connectivity. The insula emerges as a key region affected by cannabinoid-induced changes in functional connectivity, with potential implications for understanding cannabis-related disorders, and the development of cannabinoid therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Wall
- Invicro London, London, UK.,Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK.,Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tom P Freeman
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK.,Addiction and Mental Health Group (AIM), Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Chandni Hindocha
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lysia Demetriou
- Invicro London, London, UK.,Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Natalie Ertl
- Invicro London, London, UK.,Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Abigail M Freeman
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Will Lawn
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Pope
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claire Mokrysz
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Ben Statton
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
| | - Hannah R Walker
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yumeya Yamamori
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Zixu Yang
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jocelyn Ll Yim
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - David J Nutt
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Oliver D Howes
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK.,Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - H Valerie Curran
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
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Strzelecki A, Weafer J, Stoops WW. Human behavioral pharmacology of stimulant drugs: An update and narrative review. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2022; 93:77-103. [PMID: 35341574 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Stimulant use disorders present an enduring public health concern. Chronic stimulant use is associated with a range of health problems, with notable increases in stimulant overdose that disproportionately affect marginalized populations. With these persistent problems, it is important to understand the behavioral and pharmacological factors that contribute to stimulant use in humans. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an update and narrative review on recent human laboratory research that has evaluated the behavioral pharmacology of stimulant drugs. We focus on two prototypic stimulants: cocaine as a prototype monoamine reuptake inhibitor and d-amphetamine as a prototype monoamine releaser. As such, placebo controlled human laboratory studies that involved administration of doses of cocaine or d-amphetamine and were published in peer reviewed journals within the last 10 years (i.e., since 2011) are reviewed. Primary outcomes from these studies are subjective effects, reinforcing effects, cognitive/behavioral effects, and discriminative stimulus effects. Both cocaine and d-amphetamine produce classical stimulant-like behavioral effects (e.g., increase positive subjective effects, function as reinforcers), but there are notable gaps in the literature including understanding sex differences in response to stimulant drugs, cognitive-behavioral effects of stimulants, and influence of use history (e.g., relatively drug naïve vs drug experienced) on stimulant effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Strzelecki
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Jessica Weafer
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - William W Stoops
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, Lexington, KY, United States; University of Kentucky, Department of Behavioral Science, Lexington, KY, United States; University of Kentucky, Department of Psychiatry, Lexington, KY, United States; University of Kentucky, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, Lexington, KY, United States.
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Thomson H, Labuschagne I, Greenwood LM, Robinson E, Sehl H, Suo C, Lorenzetti V. Is resting-state functional connectivity altered in regular cannabis users? A systematic review of the literature. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:1191-1209. [PMID: 34415377 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05938-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Regular cannabis use has been associated with brain functional alterations within frontal, temporal, and striatal pathways assessed during various cognitive tasks. Whether such alterations are consistently reported in the absence of overt task performance needs to be elucidated to uncover the core neurobiological mechanisms of regular cannabis use. OBJECTIVES We aim to systematically review findings from studies that examine spontaneous fluctuations of brain function using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in cannabis users versus controls, and the association between rsFC and cannabis use chronicity, mental health symptoms, and cognitive performance. METHODS We conducted a PROSPERO registered systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and searched eight databases. RESULTS Twenty-one studies were included for review. Samples comprised 1396 participants aged 16 to 42 years, of which 737 were cannabis users and 659 were controls. Most studies found greater positive rsFC in cannabis users compared to controls between frontal-frontal, fronto-striatal, and fronto-temporal region pairings. The same region pairings were found to be preliminarily associated with varying measures of cannabis exposure. CONCLUSIONS The evidence to date shows that regular cannabis exposure is consistently associated with alteration of spontaneous changes in Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent signal without any explicit cognitive input or output. These findings have implications for interpreting results from task-based fMRI studies of cannabis users, which may additionally tax overlapping networks. Future longitudinal rsFC fMRI studies are required to determine the clinical relevance of the findings and their link to the chronicity of use, mental health, and cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Thomson
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Australian Catholic University, 17 Young Street, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia
| | - Izelle Labuschagne
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Australian Catholic University, 17 Young Street, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia
| | - Lisa-Marie Greenwood
- Research School of Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,The Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence (ACRE), New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Emily Robinson
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Australian Catholic University, 17 Young Street, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia
| | - Hannah Sehl
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Australian Catholic University, 17 Young Street, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia
| | - Chao Suo
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Biomedical Imaging Facility, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Valentina Lorenzetti
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Australian Catholic University, 17 Young Street, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia.
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11
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Gilman JM, Schmitt WA, Potter K, Kendzior B, Pachas GN, Hickey S, Makary M, Huestis MA, Evins AE. Identification of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) impairment using functional brain imaging. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:944-952. [PMID: 34999737 PMCID: PMC8882180 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01259-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The primary cannabinoid in cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), causes intoxication and impaired function, with implications for traffic, workplace, and other situational safety risks. There are currently no evidence-based methods to detect cannabis-impaired driving, and current field sobriety tests with gold-standard, drug recognition evaluations are resource-intensive and may be prone to bias. This study evaluated the capability of a simple, portable imaging method to accurately detect individuals with THC impairment. In this double-blind, randomized, cross-over study, 169 cannabis users, aged 18-55 years, underwent functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) before and after receiving oral THC and placebo, at study visits one week apart. Impairment was defined by convergent classification by consensus clinical ratings and an algorithm based on post-dose tachycardia and self-rated "high." Our primary outcome, prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (HbO), was increased after THC only in participants operationalized as impaired, independent of THC dose. ML models using fNIRS time course features and connectivity matrices identified impairment with 76.4% accuracy, 69.8% positive predictive value (PPV), and 10% false-positive rate using convergent classification as ground truth, which exceeded Drug Recognition Evaluator-conducted expanded field sobriety examination (67.8% accuracy, 35.4% PPV, and 35.4% false-positive rate). These findings demonstrate that PFC response activation patterns and connectivity produce a neural signature of impairment, and that PFC signal, measured with fNIRS, can be used as a sole input to ML models to objectively determine impairment from THC intoxication at the individual level. Future work is warranted to determine the specificity of this classifier to acute THC impairment.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03655717.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi M Gilman
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- MGH/HST Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - William A Schmitt
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- MGH/HST Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Potter
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Gladys N Pachas
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Hickey
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meena Makary
- MGH/HST Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marilyn A Huestis
- Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A Eden Evins
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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12
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Functional brain connectomes reflect acute and chronic cannabis use. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2449. [PMID: 35165360 PMCID: PMC8844352 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06509-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractResting state fMRI has been employed to identify alterations in functional connectivity within or between brain regions following acute and chronic exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in cannabis. Most studies focused a priori on a limited number of local brain areas or circuits, without considering the impact of cannabis on whole-brain network organization. The present study attempted to identify changes in the whole-brain human functional connectome as assessed with ultra-high field (7T) resting state scans of cannabis users (N = 26) during placebo and following vaporization of cannabis. Two distinct data-driven methodologies, i.e. network-based statistics (NBS) and connICA, were used to identify changes in functional connectomes associated with acute cannabis intoxication and history of cannabis use. Both methodologies revealed a broad state of hyperconnectivity within the entire range of major brain networks in chronic cannabis users compared to occasional cannabis users, which might be reflective of an adaptive network reorganization following prolonged cannabis exposure. The connICA methodology also extracted a distinct spatial connectivity pattern of hypoconnectivity involving the dorsal attention, limbic, subcortical and cerebellum networks and of hyperconnectivity between the default mode and ventral attention network, that was associated with the feeling of subjective high during THC intoxication. Whole-brain network approaches identified spatial patterns in functional brain connectomes that distinguished acute from chronic cannabis use, and offer an important utility for probing the interplay between short and long-term alterations in functional brain dynamics when progressing from occasional to chronic use of cannabis.
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13
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Ramaekers JG, Theunissen EL, van Ruitenbeek P, Mason NL. Cannabis Use and Neuroadaptation: A Call for Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol Challenge Studies. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:870750. [PMID: 35492732 PMCID: PMC9046729 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.870750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, the assessment of the neurobehavioral consequences of repeated cannabis use is restricted to studies in which brain function of chronic cannabis users is compared to that of non-cannabis using controls. The assumption of such studies is that changes in brain function of chronic users are caused by repeated and prolonged exposure to acute cannabis intoxication. However, differences in brain function between chronic cannabis users and non-users might also arise from confounding factors such as polydrug use, alcohol use, withdrawal, economic status, or lifestyle conditions. We propose a methodology that highlights the relevance of acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dosing studies for a direct assessment of neuroadaptations in chronic cannabis users. The approach includes quantification of neurochemical, receptor, and functional brain network changes in response to an acute cannabis challenge, as well as stratification of cannabis using groups ranging from occasional to cannabis-dependent individuals. The methodology allows for an evaluation of THC induced neuroadaptive and neurocognitive changes across cannabis use history, that can inform neurobiological models on reward driven, compulsive cannabis use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Eef L Theunissen
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Peter van Ruitenbeek
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Natasha L Mason
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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14
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Perkins D, Brophy H, McGregor IS, O'Brien P, Quilter J, McNamara L, Sarris J, Stevenson M, Gleeson P, Sinclair J, Dietze P. Medicinal cannabis and driving: the intersection of health and road safety policy. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 97:103307. [PMID: 34107448 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent shifting attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis has seen legal access pathways established in many jurisdictions in North America, Europe and Australasia. However, the positioning of cannabis as a legitimate medical product produces some tensions with other regulatory frameworks. A notable example of this is the so-called 'zero tolerance' drug driving legal frameworks, which criminalise the presence of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in a driver's bodily fluids irrespective of impairment. Here we undertake an analysis of this policy issue based on a case study of the introduction of medicinal cannabis in Australia. METHODS We examine the regulatory approaches used for managing road safety risks associated with potentially impairing prescription medicines and illicit drugs in Australian jurisdictions, as well as providing an overview of evidence relating to cannabis and road safety risk, unintended impacts of the 'zero-tolerance' approach on patients, and the regulation of medicinal cannabis and driving in comparable jurisdictions. RESULTS Road safety risks associated with medicinal cannabis appear similar or lower than numerous other potentially impairing prescription medications. The application of presence-based offences to medicinal cannabis patients appears to derive from the historical status of cannabis as a prohibited drug with no legitimate medical application. This approach is resulting in patient harms including criminal sanctions when not impaired and using the drug as directed by their doctor, or the forfeiting of car use and related mobility. Others who need to drive are excluded from accessing a needed medication and associated therapeutic benefit. 'Medical exemptions' for medicinal cannabis in comparable jurisdictions and other drugs included in presence offences in Australia (e.g. methadone) demonstrate a feasible alternative approach. CONCLUSION We conclude that in medical-only access models there is little evidence to justify the differential treatment of medicinal cannabis patients, compared with those taking other prescription medications with potentially impairing effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Perkins
- Office of Medicinal Cannabis, Department of Health, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; School of Social and Political Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Hugh Brophy
- Office of Medicinal Cannabis, Department of Health, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia. Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Paula O'Brien
- Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Julia Quilter
- School of Law, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Luke McNamara
- Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, Faculty of Law and Justice, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jerome Sarris
- NICM Health Research institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Professorial Unit, The Melbourne Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 130 Church St, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
| | - Mark Stevenson
- Urban Transport and Public Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Penny Gleeson
- Deakin Law School, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Justin Sinclair
- NICM Health Research institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Paul Dietze
- Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
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15
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Gunasekera B, Davies C, Martin-Santos R, Bhattacharyya S. The Yin and Yang of Cannabis: A Systematic Review of Human Neuroimaging Evidence of the Differential Effects of Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 6:636-645. [PMID: 33414100 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been the most investigated cannabinoids at the human and preclinical levels, although the neurobiological mechanisms underlying their effects remain unclear. Human experimental evidence complemented by observational studies suggests that THC may have psychotogenic effects while CBD may have antipsychotic effects. However, whether their effects on brain function are consistent with their opposing behavioral effects remains unclear. To address this, here we synthesize neuroimaging evidence investigating the acute effects of THC and CBD on human brain function using a range of neuroimaging techniques, with an aim to identify the key brain substrates where THC and CBD have opposing effects. After a systematic search, a review of the available studies indicated marked heterogeneity. However, an overall pattern of opposite effect profiles of the two cannabinoids was evident with some degree of consistency, primarily attributed to the head-to-head challenge studies of THC and CBD. While head-to-head comparisons are relatively few, collectively the evidence suggests that opposite effects of THC and CBD may be present in the striatum, parahippocampus, anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex, and amygdala, with opposite effects less consistently identified in other regions. Broadly, THC seems to increase brain activation and blood flow, whereas CBD seems to decrease brain activation and blood flow. Given the sparse evidence, there is a particular need to understand the mechanisms underlying their opposite behavioral effects because it may not only offer insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of psychotic disorders but also suggest potentially novel targets and biomarkers for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Gunasekera
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Cathy Davies
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Rocio Martin-Santos
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
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16
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The why behind the high: determinants of neurocognition during acute cannabis exposure. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:439-454. [PMID: 34045693 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00466-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Acute cannabis intoxication may induce neurocognitive impairment and is a possible cause of human error, injury and psychological distress. One of the major concerns raised about increasing cannabis legalization and the therapeutic use of cannabis is that it will increase cannabis-related harm. However, the impairing effect of cannabis during intoxication varies among individuals and may not occur in all users. There is evidence that the neurocognitive response to acute cannabis exposure is driven by changes in the activity of the mesocorticolimbic and salience networks, can be exacerbated or mitigated by biological and pharmacological factors, varies with product formulations and frequency of use and can differ between recreational and therapeutic use. It is argued that these determinants of the cannabis-induced neurocognitive state should be taken into account when defining and evaluating levels of cannabis impairment in the legal arena, when prescribing cannabis in therapeutic settings and when informing society about the safe and responsible use of cannabis.
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17
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A systematic review of neuroimaging and acute cannabis exposure in age-of-risk for psychosis. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:217. [PMID: 33850098 PMCID: PMC8044224 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01295-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute exposure to cannabis has been associated with an array of cognitive alterations, increased risk for neuropsychiatric illness, and other neuropsychiatric sequelae including the emergence of acute psychotic symptoms. However, the brain alterations associating cannabis use and these behavioral and clinical phenotypes remains disputed. To this end, neuroimaging can be a powerful technique to non-invasively study the impact of cannabis exposure on brain structure and function in both humans and animal models. While chronic exposure studies provide insight into how use may be related to long-term outcomes, acute exposure may reveal interesting information regarding the immediate impact of use and abuse on brain circuits. Understanding these alterations could reveal the connection with symptom dimensions in neuropsychiatric disorders and, more specifically with psychosis. The purpose of the present review is to: 1) provide an update on the findings of pharmacological neuroimaging studies examining the effects of administered cannabinoids and 2) focus the discussion on studies that examine the sensitive window for the emergence of psychosis. Current literature indicates that cannabis exposure has varied effects on the brain, with the principal compounds in cannabis (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol) altering activity across different brain regions. Importantly, we also discovered critical gaps in the literature, particularly regarding sex-dependent responses and long-term effects of chronic exposure. Certain networks often characterized as dysregulated in psychosis, like the default mode network and limbic system, were also impacted by THC exposure, identifying areas of particular interest for future work investigating the potential relationship between the two.
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18
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Crane NA, Phan KL. Effect of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on frontostriatal resting state functional connectivity and subjective euphoric response in healthy young adults. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 221:108565. [PMID: 33592558 PMCID: PMC8026570 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have examined how Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, impacts brain reward circuitry in humans. In this study, we examined if an acute dose of THC altered resting state functional connectivity between the striatum and prefrontal cortex among healthy young adults with limited cannabis use. METHODS Participants received THC (n = 24) or placebo (n = 22) in a double-blind, randomized, between-subject design. Participants completed self-report measures of euphoria and drug-liking throughout the visit. Approximately 120 min after drug administration, participants completed an 8-min resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) scan. We utilized seed-based connectivity of the striatum (bilateral putamen, caudate, and NAcc seeds) to the frontal cortex. RESULTS Individuals who received THC demonstrated greater rs-fMRI connectivity between the right NAcc and regions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) (p-values<0.05, corrected) and higher subjective euphoria ratings (p = .03) compared to compared to individuals who received placebo. Higher ratings of euphoria were related to greater right NAcc-dorsal mPFC (dmPFC) connectivity for the THC group (p=.03), but not for the placebo group (p=.98). CONCLUSIONS This is one of the first studies to examine rs-fMRI connectivity in healthy young non-users after THC administration. We found individuals receiving THC show greater rs-fMRI connectivity between the NAcc and mPFC, regions implicated in reward, compared to individuals receiving placebo. In addition, individuals receiving THC reported higher subjective euphoria ratings, which were positively associated with NAcc-dmPFC connectivity. Overall, our findings suggest THC may produce subjective and neural reward responses that contribute to the rewarding, reinforcing properties of cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K. Luan Phan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at
Chicago,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio
State University
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19
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Ruiz CM, Torrens A, Castillo E, Perrone CR, Cevallos J, Inshishian VC, Harder EV, Justeson DN, Huestis MA, Swarup V, Piomelli D, Mahler SV. Pharmacokinetic, behavioral, and brain activity effects of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in adolescent male and female rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:959-969. [PMID: 32927465 PMCID: PMC8115040 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00839-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the intoxicating constituent of cannabis and is responsible for the drug's reinforcing effects. Retrospective human studies suggest that cannabis use during adolescence is linked to long-term negative psychological outcomes, but in such studies it is difficult to distinguish the effects of THC from those of coexisting factors. Therefore, translationally relevant animal models are required to properly investigate THC effects in adolescents. However, though the relevance of these studies depends upon human-relevant dosing, surprisingly little is known about THC pharmacology and its effects on behavior and brain activity in adolescent rodents-especially in females. Here, we conducted a systematic investigation of THC pharmacokinetics, metabolism and distribution in blood and brain, and of THC effects upon behavior and neural activity in adolescent Long Evans rats of both sexes. We administered THC during an early-middle adolescent window (postnatal days 27-45) in which the brain may be particularly sensitive to developmental perturbation by THC. We determined the pharmacokinetic profile of THC and its main first-pass metabolites (11-hydroxy-THC and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC) in blood and brain following acute injection (0.5 or 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). We also evaluated THC effects on behavioral assays of anxiety, locomotion, and place conditioning, as well as c-Fos expression in 14 brain regions. Confirming previous work, we find marked sex differences in THC metabolism, including a female-specific elevation in the bioactive metabolite 11-hydroxy-THC. Furthermore, we find dose-dependent and sex-dependent effects on behavior, neural activity, and functional connectivity across multiple nodes of brain stress and reward networks. Our findings are relevant for interpreting results of rat adolescent THC exposure studies, and may lend new insights into how THC impacts the brain in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Ruiz
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Alexa Torrens
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Erik Castillo
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Christina R. Perrone
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA ,grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Jenny Cevallos
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Victoria C. Inshishian
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA ,grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Eden V. Harder
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Drew N. Justeson
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Marilyn A. Huestis
- grid.265008.90000 0001 2166 5843Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
| | - Vivek Swarup
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. .,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Stephen V. Mahler
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
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20
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Rinehart L, Spencer S. Which came first: Cannabis use or deficits in impulse control? Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 106:110066. [PMID: 32795592 PMCID: PMC7750254 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Impulse control deficits are often found to co-occur with substance use disorders (SUDs). On the one hand, it is well known that chronic intake of drugs of abuse remodels the brain with significant consequences for a range of cognitive behaviors. On the other hand, individual variation in impulse control may contribute to differences in susceptibility to SUDs. Both of these relationships have been described, thus leading to a "chicken or the egg" debate which remains to be fully resolved. Does impulsivity precede drug use or does it manifest as a function of problematic drug usage? The link between impulsivity and SUDs has been most strongly established for cocaine and alcohol use disorders using both preclinical models and clinical data. Much less is known about the potential link between impulsivity and cannabis use disorder (CUD) or the directionality of this relationship. The initiation of cannabis use occurs most often during adolescence prior to the brain's maturation, which is recognized as a critical period of development. The long-term effects of chronic cannabis use on the brain and behavior have started to be explored. In this review we will summarize these observations, especially as they pertain to the relationship between impulsivity and CUD, from both a psychological and biological perspective. We will discuss impulsivity as a multi-dimensional construct and attempt to reconcile the results obtained across modalities. Finally, we will discuss possible avenues for future research with emerging longitudinal data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Rinehart
- University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Sade Spencer
- University of Minnesota, Department of Pharmacology, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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21
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Johnson MB, Mechtler L, Ali B, Swedler D, Kelley-Baker T. Cannabis and crash risk among older drivers. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2021; 152:105987. [PMID: 33549974 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2021.105987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to reanalyze data collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Drug and Alcohol Crash Risk Study to investigate whether driving under the influence of cannabis (THC-positive) was associated with elevated crash risk for younger and older drivers. The data came from a case-control relative risk study collected from Virginia Beach, VA, over a 20-month period. Data collectors gathered driver information from the scene of vehicle crashes and, in some cases, from hospitals. Non-crash controls were sampled from the same locations, days, and times as crashes. Key data items included driver demographics and oral fluid and blood samples, which were assayed for licit and illicit drugs. We found no overall association between cannabis use and risk of crash involvement. However, when age and age2 were allowed to interact with THC, significant interaction effects emerged. THC was associated with increased risk of crash involvement for older drivers. Difference between THC-positive and sober drivers emerged as significant at age 64. The research underscores the value of examining drugged driving in the context of driver age. Age-related declines in neurocognitive and psychomotor functioning were not measured but might be important in explaining the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark B Johnson
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), 11720 Beltsville Drive, Suite 900, Calverton, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Laszlo Mechtler
- Dent Neurologic Institute, 3980 Sheridan Drive, Amherst, NY 14226, USA
| | - Bina Ali
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), 11720 Beltsville Drive, Suite 900, Calverton, MD 20705, USA
| | - David Swedler
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), 11720 Beltsville Drive, Suite 900, Calverton, MD 20705, USA
| | - Tara Kelley-Baker
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20005-2000, USA
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22
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Kayser RR, Haney M, Simpson HB. Human Laboratory Models of Cannabis Use: Applications for Clinical and Translational Psychiatry Research. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:626150. [PMID: 33716825 PMCID: PMC7947318 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.626150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is increasingly used by individuals with mental health diagnoses and often purported to treat anxiety and various other psychiatric symptoms. Yet support for using cannabis as a psychiatric treatment is currently limited by a lack of evidence from rigorous placebo-controlled studies. While regulatory hurdles and other barriers make clinical trials of cannabis challenging to conduct, addiction researchers have decades of experience studying cannabis use in human laboratory models. These include methods to control cannabis administration, to delineate clinical and mechanistic aspects of cannabis use, and to evaluate potential treatment applications for cannabis and its constituents. In this paper, we review these human laboratory procedures and describe how each can be applied to study cannabis use in patients with psychiatric disorders. Because anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting American adults, and anxiety relief is also the most commonly-reported reason for medicinal cannabis use, we focus particularly on applying human laboratory models to study cannabis effects in individuals with anxiety and related disorders. Finally, we discuss how these methods can be integrated to study cannabis effects in other psychiatric conditions and guide future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reilly R. Kayser
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
- Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Margaret Haney
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
- Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Helen Blair Simpson
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
- Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
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Zhornitsky S, Pelletier J, Assaf R, Giroux S, Li CSR, Potvin S. Acute effects of partial CB 1 receptor agonists on cognition - A meta-analysis of human studies. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 104:110063. [PMID: 32791166 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impairment in cognition is frequently associated with acute cannabis consumption. However, some questions remain unanswered as to which deficits are most prominent and which demographic groups are most vulnerable. METHODS A literature search yielded 52 experimental studies of acute administration of partial CB1 receptor agonists (i.e. cannabis, THC, and nabilone) that assessed cognitive dysfunction in 1580 healthy volunteers. Effect size estimates were calculated using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis for the following six cognitive domains: attention, executive functions, impulsivity, speed of processing, verbal learning/memory, and working memory. RESULTS There were small-to-moderate impairments across all cognitive domains. Deficits in verbal learning/memory and working memory were more prominent, whereas attention and impulsivity were the least affected. Meta-regression analysis revealed that the greater the male ratio is in a sample, the greater the negative effect of cannabinoids on speed of processing and impulsivity. Analysis of route of administration showed that the deficits in speed of processing were smaller in the oral, relative to smoking, vaping, and intravenous administration studies. A publication bias was observed. DISCUSSION Verbal learning/memory and working memory are most prominently affected by acute administration of partial CB1 receptor agonists. The results are consistent with the residual cognitive effects that have been documented among chronic cannabis users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States of America
| | - Julie Pelletier
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Roxane Assaf
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sarah Giroux
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States of America; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America
| | - Stephane Potvin
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Escelsior A, Belvederi Murri M, Corsini GP, Serafini G, Aguglia A, Zampogna D, Cattedra S, Nebbia J, Trabucco A, Prestia D, Olcese M, Barletta E, Pereira da Silva B, Amore M. Cannabinoid use and self-injurious behaviours: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2021; 278:85-98. [PMID: 32956965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing availability of high-potency cannabis-derived compounds and the use of synthetic cannabinoids may be responsible for severe side effects like cognitive impairment, psychosis or self-injurious behaviours (SIB). In particular, SIB like non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and deliberate self-harm (DSH) raise growing concern as a possible consequence of cannabis use. However, the research to date has not addressed the relationship between cannabinoid use and SIB systematically. METHODS We conducted a systematic review on PubMed up to March 2020, using search terms related to cannabinoids and SIB. RESULTS The search yielded a total of 440 abstracts. Of those, 37 studies published between 1995 and 2020 were eligible for inclusion. Cannabinoid use was significantly associated with SIB at the cross-sectional (OR=1.569, 95%CI [1.167-2.108]) and longitudinal (OR=2.569, 95%CI [2.207-3.256]) level. Chronic use, presence of mental disorders, depressive symptoms, emotional dysregulation and impulsive traits might further increase the likelihood of self-harm in cannabis users. Synthetic cannabinoids may trigger highly destructive SIB mainly through the psychotomimetic properties of these compounds. CONCLUSION Cannabinoid use was associated with an increased prevalence of self-injury and may act as a causative factor with a duration-dependent manner. Emotional regulation and behavioural impulsivity functions might crucially moderate this association. Future studies should further investigate the mechanisms underlying this association, while exploring potential therapeutic applications of substances modulating the endocannabinoid system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Escelsior
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Martino Belvederi Murri
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Pietro Corsini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Aguglia
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Domenico Zampogna
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Cattedra
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Jacopo Nebbia
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alice Trabucco
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Davide Prestia
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Martina Olcese
- Department of Educational Science - Psychology Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Beatriz Pereira da Silva
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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Mason NL, Theunissen EL, Hutten NR, Tse DH, Toennes SW, Jansen JF, Stiers P, Ramaekers JG. Reduced responsiveness of the reward system is associated with tolerance to cannabis impairment in chronic users. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e12870. [PMID: 31865628 PMCID: PMC7757162 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in the world. However, because of a changing legal landscape and rising interest in therapeutic utility, there is an increasing trend in (long‐term) use and possibly cannabis impairment. Importantly, a growing body of evidence suggests that regular cannabis users develop tolerance to the impairing, as well as the rewarding, effects of the drug. However, the neuroadaptations that may underlie cannabis tolerance remain unclear. Therefore, this double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over study assessed the acute influence of cannabis on the brain and behavioral outcomes in two distinct cannabis user groups. Twelve occasional and 12 chronic cannabis users received acute doses of cannabis (300‐μg/kg delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol) and placebo and underwent ultrahigh field functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In occasional users, cannabis induced significant neurometabolic alterations in reward circuitry, namely, decrements in functional connectivity and increments in striatal glutamate concentrations, which were associated with increases in subjective high and decreases in performance on a sustained attention task. Such changes were absent in chronic users. The finding that cannabis altered circuitry and distorted behavior in occasional, but not chronic users, suggests reduced responsiveness of the reward circuitry to cannabis intoxication in chronic users. Taken together, the results suggest a pharmacodynamic mechanism for the development of tolerance to cannabis impairment, of which is important to understand in the context of the long‐term therapeutic use of cannabis‐based medications, as well as in the context of public health and safety of cannabis use when performing day‐to‐day operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha L. Mason
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience Maastricht University Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Eef L. Theunissen
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience Maastricht University Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Nadia R.P.W. Hutten
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience Maastricht University Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Desmond H.Y. Tse
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience Maastricht University Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Stefan W. Toennes
- Institute of Legal Medicine University of Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Germany
| | - Jacobus F.A. Jansen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+) Maastricht The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Peter Stiers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience Maastricht University Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Johannes G. Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience Maastricht University Maastricht The Netherlands
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Impulsivity traits and neurocognitive mechanisms conferring vulnerability to substance use disorders. Neuropharmacology 2020; 183:108402. [PMID: 33189766 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Impulsivity - the tendency to act without sufficient consideration of potential consequences in pursuit of short-term rewards - is a vulnerability marker for substance use disorders (SUD). Since impulsivity is a multifaceted construct, which encompasses trait-related characteristics and neurocognitive mechanisms, it is important to ascertain which of these aspects are significant contributors to SUD susceptibility. In this review, we discuss how different trait facets, cognitive processes and neuroimaging indices underpinning impulsivity contribute to the vulnerability to SUD. We reviewed studies that applied three different approaches that can shed light on the role of impulsivity as a precursor of substance use related problems (versus a consequence of drug effects): (1) longitudinal studies, (2) endophenotype studies including non-affected relatives of people with SUD, and (3) clinical reference groups-based comparisons, i.e., between substance use and behavioural addictive disorders. We found that, across different methodologies, the traits of non-planning impulsivity and affect-based impulsivity and the cognitive processes involved in reward-related valuation are consistent predictors of SUD vulnerability. These aspects are associated with the structure and function of the medial orbitofrontal-striatal system and hyperexcitability of dopamine receptors in this network. The field still needs more theory-driven, comprehensive studies that simultaneously assess the different aspects of impulsivity in relation to harmonised SUD-related outcomes. Furthermore, future studies should investigate the impact of impulsivity-related vulnerabilities on novel patterns of substance use such as new tobacco and cannabinoid products, and the moderating impact of changes in social norms and lifestyles on the link between impulsivity and SUD. This article is part of the special issue on 'Vulnerabilities to Substance Abuse'.
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27
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Hasin DS, Aharonovich E. Implications of Medical and Recreational Marijuana Laws for Neuroscience Research: a Review. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2020; 7:258-266. [PMID: 34336547 PMCID: PMC8323790 DOI: 10.1007/s40473-020-00222-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Review of US medical and recreational marijuana laws (MML and RML), their effects on cannabis potency, prevalence of non-medical cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) in adolescents and adults, and implications for neuroscience research, given what is known about the relationship of cannabis to neurocognitive impairments and underlying brain functioning. Recent Findings Cannabis potency may be increasing faster in states with MML or RML than in other states. MML and RML have not impacted prevalence in adolescents but have consistently been shown to increase rates of adult non-medical use and CUD. Summary Recent neurocognitive or neuroimaging studies may be more impacted by cannabis than studies conducted when MML and RML were less common. Neurocognitive or neuroimaging studies conducted in MML or RML states should carefully test potential participants for recent cannabis use. More research is needed on cannabis and cognition in medical marijuana patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah S. Hasin
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Efrat Aharonovich
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Viator RE, Harp NL, Rinaldo SB, Marquardt BB. The mediating effect of reflective-analytic cognitive style on rational thought. THINKING & REASONING 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/13546783.2019.1634151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph E. Viator
- Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Nancy L. Harp
- College of Business, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - Blair B. Marquardt
- G. Brint Ryan College of Business, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
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29
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Ramaekers JG, Mason NL, Theunissen EL. Blunted highs: Pharmacodynamic and behavioral models of cannabis tolerance. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 36:191-205. [PMID: 32014378 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Acute exposure to cannabis comes with neurocognitive impairment, leading to increased risk of human error and injury. Evidence however indicates that such acute effects are less prominent in chronic users, suggesting cannabis tolerance. Models of cannabis tolerance stress the importance of neurobiological or behavioral adaptations following repeated cannabis exposure. The pharmacodynamic model relates neuroadaptive changes in the brain to a blunted response to cannabis. Downregulation of CB1 receptors in chronic cannabis users has been associated with a normalization of dopaminergic output from the ventral tegmental area to the mesolimbic circuit, and a reduction of impairment during acute cannabis exposure. Such neuroadaptions are absent in occasional users, who show strong increments of dopamine and glutamate levels in the striatum, a loss of functional connectivity within the mesolimbic circuit and neurocognitive impairments when exposed to cannabis. Evidence for a behavioral model of cannabis tolerance that poses that users can have volitional control to overcome functional impairment during cannabis intoxication is relatively weak, and at best shows limited control over a limited number of behavioral functions. Cannabis tolerance is most likely to occur in users that consume high doses of cannabis continuously, at a high pace, for a prolonged period of time. Knowledge on frequency, dose and duration of cannabis use that is needed to achieve, maintain or lessen tolerance however is very limited, but will be of importance in the context of cannabis therapeutics and in legal settings when evaluating the impact of cannabis exposure on human function.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G Ramaekers
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
| | - N L Mason
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - E L Theunissen
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
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Blair Thies M, DeRosse P, Sarpal DK, Argyelan M, Fales CL, Gallego JA, Robinson DG, Lencz T, Homan P, Malhotra AK. Interaction of Cannabis Use Disorder and Striatal Connectivity in Antipsychotic Treatment Response. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2020; 1:sgaa014. [PMID: 32803161 PMCID: PMC7418867 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Antipsychotic (AP) medications are the mainstay for the treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), but their efficacy is unpredictable and widely variable. Substantial efforts have been made to identify prognostic biomarkers that can be used to guide optimal prescription strategies for individual patients. Striatal regions involved in salience and reward processing are disrupted as a result of both SSD and cannabis use, and research demonstrates that striatal circuitry may be integral to response to AP drugs. In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the relationship between a history of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and a striatal connectivity index (SCI), a previously developed neural biomarker for AP treatment response in SSD. Patients were part of a 12-week randomized, double-blind controlled treatment study of AP drugs. A sample of 48 first-episode SSD patients with no more than 2 weeks of lifetime exposure to AP medications, underwent a resting-state fMRI scan pretreatment. Treatment response was defined a priori as a binary (response/nonresponse) variable, and a SCI was calculated in each patient. We examined whether there was an interaction between lifetime CUD history and the SCI in relation to treatment response. We found that CUD history moderated the relationship between SCI and treatment response, such that it had little predictive value in SSD patients with a CUD history. In sum, our findings highlight that biomarker development can be critically impacted by patient behaviors that influence neurobiology, such as a history of CUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Blair Thies
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
| | - Pamela DeRosse
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY
| | - Deepak K Sarpal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Miklos Argyelan
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY
| | - Christina L Fales
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
| | - Juan A Gallego
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
- Graduate Center—City University of New York, New York, NY
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY
| | - Delbert G Robinson
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY
| | - Todd Lencz
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY
| | - Philipp Homan
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
| | - Anil K Malhotra
- Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
- Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY
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Kuypers K, Verkes RJ, van den Brink W, van Amsterdam J, Ramaekers JG. Intoxicated aggression: Do alcohol and stimulants cause dose-related aggression? A review. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 30:114-147. [PMID: 29941239 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Violence and drug use are significant public health challenges that are strongly linked. It is known that alcohol plays a major role in the causation of unnatural deaths and that stimulants like cocaine and amphetamine are often implicated in aggressive acts or violence. However, a clear causal relationship between these substances and aggression, and more specifically a blood concentration threshold at which intoxicated aggression emerges is lacking. In case of a crime and subsequent law enforcement, knowledge about dose-response relationships could be of pivotal importance when evaluating the role of alcohol and drugs in aggressive offences. AIMS The present review aimed to determine whether there is a causal relation between intoxication with these psychoactive substances and aggression, and to define blood concentration thresholds above which these substances elicit aggression. METHODS Empirical articles published between 2013 and 2017 and review papers containing the predefined search strings were identified through searches in the PubMed and Embase databases and additional reference list searches. The complete search query yielded 1578 publications. Initially all articles were manually screened by title and abstract. Articles with irrelevant titles, given the selected search terms and review aims were discarded. Remaining articles were carefully studied and those that did not comply with the main objectives of this review were discarded. At the end of this process, 167 titles were found eligible for review. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION While placebo-controlled experimental studies clearly showed a causal link between alcohol and aggression, it is evident that such a link has not yet been established for cocaine and amphetamines. In case of alcohol, it is clear that there are various individual and contextual factors that may contribute to the occurrence of an aggressive act during intoxication. A clear threshold blood alcohol concentration has not been defined yet for alcohol, but a statistically significant increase of aggression has been demonstrated at a dose of 0.75 g/kg and higher. Future studies into intoxicated aggression should include multiple doses of alcohol and stimulants and take into account individual and contextual factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kpc Kuypers
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - R J Verkes
- Radboud UMC, Psychiatry, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - W van den Brink
- AMC Psychiatry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - J G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Mason NL, Theunissen EL, Hutten NRPW, Tse DHY, Toennes SW, Stiers P, Ramaekers JG. Cannabis induced increase in striatal glutamate associated with loss of functional corticostriatal connectivity. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:247-256. [PMID: 30553697 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug and is known to alter state of consciousness and impair neurocognitive function. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have yet to be fully elucidated. Rodent studies suggest that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) activates dopaminergic neurons in the limbic system, subsequently enhancing dopamine, which is implicated in the rewarding effects of cannabis. Additional evidence suggests that THC may act indirectly on dopamine firing by modulating GABA and glutamate release. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the acute influence of two doses of THC on brain kinetics of glutamate, GABA, and dopamine, in relation to behavioral outcomes, by using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty occasional cannabis users received acute doses of cannabis (300 µg/kg THC) and placebo, in one of two dose regimes (full dose and divided dose), during two separate testing days. Administration of THC increased striatal glutamate concentrations, and dopamine as indicated by a reduction in functional connectivity (FC) between the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and cortical areas. Alterations in glutamate and FC were dose dependent and evident in the full dose group where THC serum concentrations exceeded 2 ng/ml at T-max. Average glutamate changes correlated strongly with FC alterations. Additionally, THC induced changes in FC correlated with feelings of subjective high and decreased performance on an attention task. Taken together, this suggests that THC elicits subjective and cognitive alterations via increased striatal dopaminergic activity and loss of corticostriatal connectivity, which is associated with an increase in striatal glutamate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha L Mason
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Eef L Theunissen
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Nadia R P W Hutten
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Desmond H Y Tse
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan W Toennes
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Peter Stiers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Hutten NRPW, Steenbergen L, Colzato LS, Hommel B, Theunissen EL, Ramaekers JG, Kuypers KPC. Cocaine enhances figural, but impairs verbal 'flexible' divergent thinking. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:813-824. [PMID: 31255395 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Anecdotal evidence suggests that cocaine use will help overcome creative 'blocks' by enhancing flexible thinking. Given that cocaine is likely to enhance dopamine (DA) levels, which in turn are positively associated with divergent thinking (DT); is a possibility that is tested in the present study. Furthermore, the impact of cocaine is tested on convergent thinking (CT), another aspect of creative thinking, which has been reported to be impaired with high DA levels. It was hypothesized that cocaine would enhance DT and impair CT. A placebo-controlled within-subjects study including 24 healthy poly-drug users was set up to test the influence of oral cocaine (300 mg) on creativity. Verbal CT was assessed with the Remote Associates Task (RAT); figural CT was assessed with the Picture Concepts Task (PCT) and the Tower of London (TOL). Verbal DT was assessed with the Alternative Uses Task (AUT); figural DT was assessed with the Pattern/Line Meanings Task (PLMT). Findings showed that, compared to placebo, cocaine impaired figural CT (TOL) and flexible DT of verbal stimuli (AUT), while it enhanced figural DT (PLMT). No significant effects of cocaine were observed regarding the PCT and RAT. It was demonstrated that cocaine-induced effects on creativity in poly-drug users are stimulus-dependent. Cocaine enhanced performance on figural DT but impaired performance on verbal (flexible) DT. Cocaine impaired CT on only one figural task and but not on the other tasks. As creativity is an important aspect in cognitive therapies, it is important to further understand these discrepancies in creativity task performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia R P W Hutten
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Laura Steenbergen
- Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lorenza S Colzato
- Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Eef L Theunissen
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Kim P C Kuypers
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Wall MB, Pope R, Freeman TP, Kowalczyk OS, Demetriou L, Mokrysz C, Hindocha C, Lawn W, Bloomfield MA, Freeman AM, Feilding A, Nutt D, Curran HV. Dissociable effects of cannabis with and without cannabidiol on the human brain's resting-state functional connectivity. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:822-830. [PMID: 31013455 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119841568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Two major constituents of cannabis are Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the main psychoactive component; CBD may buffer the user against the harmful effects of THC. AIMS We examined the effects of two strains of cannabis and placebo on the human brain's resting-state networks using fMRI. METHODS Seventeen healthy volunteers (experienced with cannabis, but not regular users) underwent three drug treatments and scanning sessions. Treatments were cannabis containing THC (Cann-CBD; 8 mg THC), cannabis containing THC with CBD (Cann+CBD; 8 mg THC + 10 mg CBD), and matched placebo cannabis. Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity analyses were performed on three brain networks: the default mode (DMN; defined by positive connectivity with the posterior cingulate cortex: PCC+), executive control (ECN; defined by negative connectivity with the posterior cingulate cortex: PCC-) and salience (SAL; defined by positive connectivity with the anterior insula: AI+) network. RESULTS Reductions in functional connectivity (relative to placebo) were seen in the DMN (PCC+) and SAL (AI+) networks for both strains of cannabis, with spatially dissociable effects. Across the entire salience network (AI+), Cann-CBD reduced connectivity relative to Cann+CBD. The PCC in the DMN was specifically disrupted by Cann-CBD, and this effect correlated with subjective drug effects, including feeling 'stoned' and 'high'. CONCLUSIONS THC disrupts the DMN, and the PCC is a key brain region involved in the subjective experience of THC intoxication. CBD restores disruption of the salience network by THC, which may explain its potential to treat disorders of salience such as psychosis and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Wall
- 1 Invicro London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK.,3 Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Pope
- 2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tom P Freeman
- 2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK.,4 Addiction and Mental Health Group (AIM), Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.,5 National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Oliwia S Kowalczyk
- 6 Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Lysia Demetriou
- 1 Invicro London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,3 Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Claire Mokrysz
- 2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Chandni Hindocha
- 2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Will Lawn
- 2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Ap Bloomfield
- 2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK.,7 Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.,8 Psychiatric Imaging, MRC London Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Abigail M Freeman
- 2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - David Nutt
- 3 Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - H Valerie Curran
- 2 Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
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Zaytseva Y, Horáček J, Hlinka J, Fajnerová I, Androvičová R, Tintěra J, Salvi V, Balíková M, Hložek T, Španiel F, Páleníček T. Cannabis-induced altered states of consciousness are associated with specific dynamic brain connectivity states. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:811-821. [PMID: 31154891 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119849814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis, and specifically one of its active compounds delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in recreational doses, has a variety of effects on cognitive processes. Most studies employ resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques to assess the stationary effects of cannabis and to-date one report addressed the impact of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the dynamics of whole-brain functional connectivity. METHODS Using a repeated-measures, within-subjects design, 19 healthy occasional cannabis users (smoking cannabis ⩽2 per week) underwent resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Each subject underwent two scans: in the intoxicated condition, shortly after smoking a cannabis cigarette, and in the non-intoxicated condition, with the subject being free from cannabinoids for at least one week before. All sessions were randomized and performed in a four-week interval. Data were analysed employing a standard independent component analysis approach with subsequent tracking of the functional connectivity dynamics, which allowed six connectivity clusters (states) to be individuated. RESULTS Using standard independent component analysis in resting state functional connectivity, a group effect was found in the precuneus connectivity. With a dynamic independent component analysis approach, we identified one transient connectivity state, characterized by high connectivity within and between auditory and somato-motor cortices and anti-correlation with subcortical structures and the cerebellum that was only found during the intoxicated condition. Behavioural measures of the subjective experiences of changed perceptions and tetrahydrocannabinol plasma levels during intoxication were associated with this state. CONCLUSIONS With the help of the dynamic connectivity approach we could elucidate neural correlates of the transitory perceptual changes induced by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabis users, and possibly identify a biomarker of cannabis intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliya Zaytseva
- 1 National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,3 Human Science Centre, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Jiří Horáček
- 1 National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,2 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Hlinka
- 1 National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,4 Institute of Computer Science, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Iveta Fajnerová
- 1 National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,2 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Renata Androvičová
- 1 National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,2 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Virginio Salvi
- 5 Department of Neuroscience, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Balíková
- 6 Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Hložek
- 6 Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Španiel
- 1 National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,2 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Páleníček
- 1 National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,2 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
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Bossong MG, van Hell HH, Schubart CD, van Saane W, Iseger TA, Jager G, van Osch MJP, Jansma JM, Kahn RS, Boks MP, Ramsey NF. Acute effects of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on resting state brain function and their modulation by COMT genotype. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:766-776. [PMID: 30975584 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis produces a broad range of acute, dose-dependent psychotropic effects. Only a limited number of neuroimaging studies have mapped these effects by examining the impact of cannabis on resting state brain neurophysiology. Moreover, how genetic variation influences the acute effects of cannabis on resting state brain function is unknown. Here we investigated the acute effects of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, on resting state brain neurophysiology, and their modulation by catechol-methyl-transferase (COMT) Val158Met genotype. Thirty-nine healthy volunteers participated in a pharmacological MRI study, where we applied Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL) to measure perfusion and functional MRI to assess resting state connectivity. THC increased perfusion in bilateral insula, medial superior frontal cortex, and left middle orbital frontal gyrus. This latter brain area showed significantly decreased connectivity with the precuneus after THC administration. THC effects on perfusion in the left insula were significantly related to subjective changes in perception and relaxation. These findings indicate that THC enhances metabolism and thus neural activity in the salience network. Furthermore, results suggest that recruitment of brain areas within this network is involved in the acute effects of THC. Resting state perfusion was modulated by COMT genotype, indicated by a significant interaction effect between drug and genotype on perfusion in the executive network, with increased perfusion after THC in Val/Met heterozygotes only. This finding suggests that prefrontal dopamine levels are involved in the susceptibility to acute effects of cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthijs G Bossong
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
| | - Hendrika H van Hell
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Chris D Schubart
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Tergooi Hospital, Van Riebeeckweg 212, 1213 XZ Hilversum, The Netherlands
| | - Wesley van Saane
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Tabitha A Iseger
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom; Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; Research Institute Brainclinics, Bijleveldsingel 32, 6524 AD Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerry Jager
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Bomenweg 2, 6703 HD, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Matthias J P van Osch
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - J Martijn Jansma
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Neurosurgery, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - René S Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY 10029-6574, United States
| | - Marco P Boks
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nick F Ramsey
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Liu Y, Williamson V, Setlow B, Cottler LB, Knackstedt LA. The importance of considering polysubstance use: lessons from cocaine research. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 192:16-28. [PMID: 30195242 PMCID: PMC7450360 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polysubstance use (PSU) is prevalent among individuals with substance use disorders, but the vast majority of preclinical substance use research has focused on individual substances in isolation. Cocaine has been prevalent in the repertoire of persons who use more than one illicit substance. METHODS We conducted a meta-analysis combining results from literature searches and secondary data analyses to estimate the prevalence of simultaneous and concurrent cocaine + alcohol and cocaine + cannabis use among cocaine users. We next summarized the small body of literature on behavioral, cognitive and neurobiological consequences of cocaine PSU across species, with a focus on alcohol and cannabis. Finally, we used systematic literature searches to assess the extent to which human and animal studies on the neurobiological consequences of cocaine include PSU subjects. RESULTS The estimated prevalence of simultaneous and concurrent alcohol use among human cocaine users was 74% and 77%, respectively. The estimated prevalence of simultaneous and concurrent cannabis use among cocaine users was 38% and 64%, respectively. Consumption of alcohol or cannabis with cocaine enhances subjective responses to cocaine, concomitant with changes in cocaine metabolism that increase blood cocaine levels, and, in the case of alcohol, produce the psychoactive metabolite cocaethylene. There is also consistent evidence for neurobiological effects of cocaine + alcohol combinations. However, animal PSU research with cocaine lags behind human research. CONCLUSION Based on the prevalence and known consequences of PSU, consideration of PSU in both human and animal research is vital for understanding patterns of substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, 2004 Mowry Road, PO Box 100231, USA
| | - Victoria Williamson
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 945 Center Dr., P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Barry Setlow
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 945 Center Dr., P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, PO Box 100256, Gainesville, FL 32610-0256, USA,Department of Neuroscience, 1149 Newell Drive, Room L1-100, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA,Center for Addiction Research and Education, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Linda B. Cottler
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, 2004 Mowry Road, PO Box 100231, USA,Center for Addiction Research and Education, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Lori A. Knackstedt
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 945 Center Dr., P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA,Center for Addiction Research and Education, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA,Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 945 Center Dr., Room Psy 114, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. (L.A. Knackstedt)
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Bloomfield MAP, Hindocha C, Green SF, Wall MB, Lees R, Petrilli K, Costello H, Ogunbiyi MO, Bossong MG, Freeman TP. The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 195:132-161. [PMID: 30347211 PMCID: PMC6416743 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The laws governing cannabis are evolving worldwide and associated with changing patterns of use. The main psychoactive drug in cannabis is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a partial agonist at the endocannabinoid CB1 receptor. Acutely, cannabis and THC produce a range of effects on several neurocognitive and pharmacological systems. These include effects on executive, emotional, reward and memory processing via direct interactions with the endocannabinoid system and indirect effects on the glutamatergic, GABAergic and dopaminergic systems. Cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in some forms of cannabis, may offset some of these acute effects. Heavy repeated cannabis use, particularly during adolescence, has been associated with adverse effects on these systems, which increase the risk of mental illnesses including addiction and psychosis. Here, we provide a comprehensive state of the art review on the acute and chronic neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis by synthesizing the available neuroimaging research in humans. We describe the effects of drug exposure during development, implications for understanding psychosis and cannabis use disorder, and methodological considerations. Greater understanding of the precise mechanisms underlying the effects of cannabis may also give rise to new treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A P Bloomfield
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Chandni Hindocha
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian F Green
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew B Wall
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Invicro UK, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Lees
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Petrilli
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Harry Costello
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - M Olabisi Ogunbiyi
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthijs G Bossong
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tom P Freeman
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Research Department of Mental Health Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, University of Bath, United Kingdom; National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
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40
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Hutten NRPW, Kuypers KPC, van Wel JHP, Theunissen EL, Toennes SW, Verkes RJ, Ramaekers JG. A single dose of cocaine enhances prospective memory performance. J Psychopharmacol 2018; 32:883-892. [PMID: 29947572 PMCID: PMC6058404 DOI: 10.1177/0269881118783299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prospective memory is the ability to recall intended actions or events at the right time or in the right context. While cannabis is known to impair prospective memory, the acute effect of cocaine is unknown. In addition, it is not clear whether changes in prospective memory represent specific alterations in memory processing or result from more general effects on cognition that spread across multiple domains such as arousal and attention. AIMS The main objective of the study was, therefore, to determine whether drug-induced changes in prospective memory are memory specific or associated with more general drug-induced changes in attention and arousal. METHODS A placebo-controlled, three-way, cross-over study including 15 regular poly-drug users was set up to test the influence of oral cocaine (300 mg) and vaporised cannabis (300+150 'booster' µg/kg bodyweight) on an event-based prospective memory task. Attentional performance was assessed using a divided attention task and subjective arousal was assessed with the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. RESULTS Results showed that cocaine enhanced prospective memory, attention and arousal. Mean performance of prospective memory and attention, as well as levels of arousal were lowest during treatment with cannabis as compared with placebo and cocaine as evinced by a significantly increased trend across treatment conditions. Prospective memory performance was only weakly positively associated to measures of attention and arousal. CONCLUSION Together, these results indicate that cocaine enhancement of prospective memory performance cannot be fully explained by parallel changes in arousal and attention levels, and is likely to represent a direct change in the neural network underlying prospective memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia RPW Hutten
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands,Nadia RPW Hutten, Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht 6200MD, The Netherlands.
| | - Kim PC Kuypers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Janelle HP van Wel
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Eef L Theunissen
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan W Toennes
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Robbert-Jan Verkes
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands,Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Institute for Brain, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
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The effect of interactions between genetics and cannabis use on neurocognition. A review. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 82:95-106. [PMID: 29191570 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis is one of the most widely-used drugs in industrialized countries. It is now well established that cannabis use impacts neurocognition. In the intoxication period time episodic memory, working memory and attention are impacted and impulsivity is increased. The long-term effects of cannabis use tend to be similar. Various internal factors, such as sex differences, modulate this impact. It is unclear whether genetic variations can also influence the impact of cannabis on neurocognition. We set out to examine the impact of genetic variations on neurocognition in cannabis users. METHOD We conducted a search via the PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases to identify studies measuring neurocognition and assessing genotypes in the context of cannabis use. RESULTS We included 13 articles. We found that working memory, verbal and visual memory and sustained attention are more impacted during intoxication in subjects with the Val COMT allele. COMT gene could also modulate sustained attention in regular use. The CNR1, AKT1, DBH and 5-HTT/SLC6A4 genes may also modulate effects. CONCLUSION Most of these genes are linked to schizophrenia. A fuller understanding of their impact on the effects of cannabis on neurocognition would thus help elucidate the mechanisms linking cannabis and psychosis. However, evidence is still scant, and more research is needed.
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Lichenstein SD, Musselman S, Shaw DS, Sitnick S, Forbes EE. Nucleus accumbens functional connectivity at age 20 is associated with trajectory of adolescent cannabis use and predicts psychosocial functioning in young adulthood. Addiction 2017; 112:1961-1970. [PMID: 28547854 PMCID: PMC5633503 DOI: 10.1111/add.13882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
AIMS (1) To identify trajectories of cannabis use across adolescence, (2) to measure the influence of cannabis use characteristics on functional connectivity of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and (3) to assess whether patterns of functional connectivity related to cannabis use are associated with psychosocial functioning 2 years later. DESIGN The Pitt Mother and Child Project (PMCP) is a prospective, longitudinal study of male youth at high risk for psychopathology based on family income and gender. SETTING Participants were recruited between age 6 and 17 months from the Women, Infants and Children Nutritional Supplement program (WIC) in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. PARTICIPANTS A total of 158 PMCP young men contributed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and substance use data at age 20 years. MEASUREMENTS Latent class growth analysis was used to determine trajectories of cannabis use frequency from age 14 to 19 years. Psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis was used to measure functional connectivity between the NAcc and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Adolescent cannabis use trajectory, recent frequency of use and age of initiation were considered as developmental factors. We also tested whether functional connectivity was associated with depressive symptoms, anhedonia and educational attainment at age 22. FINDINGS We identified three distinct trajectories of adolescent cannabis use, characterized by stable high, escalating or stable low use. The cannabis use trajectory group had a significant effect on NAcc functional connectivity to the medial PFC (F = 11.32, Z = 4.04, Pfamily-wise error-corrected (FWE-corr) = 0.000). The escalating trajectory group displayed a pattern of negative NAcc-mPFC connectivity that was linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms (r = -0.17, P < .05), anhedonia (r = -0.19, P < .05) and lower educational attainment (t = -2.77, P < .01) at age 22. CONCLUSIONS Pattern of cannabis use frequency across adolescence in US youth could have consequences for mood symptoms and educational attainment in early adulthood via altered function in neural reward circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D. Lichenstein
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA,Center for the Neural Bases of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA
| | - Samuel Musselman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA
| | - Daniel S. Shaw
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA
| | - Stephanie Sitnick
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA
| | - Erika E. Forbes
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA,Center for the Neural Bases of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA
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Correlation between Traits of Emotion-Based Impulsivity and Intrinsic Default-Mode Network Activity. Neural Plast 2017; 2017:9297621. [PMID: 29225975 PMCID: PMC5684566 DOI: 10.1155/2017/9297621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Negative urgency (NU) and positive urgency (PU) are implicated in several high-risk behaviors, such as eating disorders, substance use disorders, and nonsuicidal self-injury behavior. The current study aimed to explore the possible link between trait of urgency and brain activity at rest. We assessed the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal in 85 healthy volunteers. Trait urgency measures were related to ALFF in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventral and dorsal medial frontal cortex, anterior cingulate, and posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus. In addition, trait urgency measures showed significant correlations with the functional connectivity of the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus seed with the thalamus and midbrain region. These findings suggest an association between intrinsic brain activity and impulsive behaviors in healthy humans.
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