Multi-modal and bi-directional effects of a synthetic Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) analogue, Nabilone, on spatio-temporal binding windows: Evidence from the projected hand illusion.
Mark J H Lim, Rajan Iyyalol, Joseph W Y Lee, Mathew T Martin-Iverson
PLoS One 2024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309614 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-blind, placebo-controlled within-subjects cross-over study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers |
| Intervention | Nabilone |
| Dose | 1-2 mg |
| Measures | Projected Hand Illusion (PHI) |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key points | Nabilone had bidirectional effects on the spatio-temporal binding window, widening it in some participants and narrowing it in others depending on space and delay, with no association between agency and embodiment. |
Abstract
Abnormally widened spatial and temporal binding windows (SBW/TBWs; length of space/time whereby stimuli are considered part of the same percept) are observed in schizophrenia. TBW alterations have been associated with altered sense of agency (hereafter referred to as agency), and an associative relationship between embodiment (body ownership) and agency has been proposed. SBWs/TBWs are investigated separately, but no evidence exists of these being separate in mechanism, system or function. The underlying neural substrate of schizophrenia remains unclear. The literature claims either pro-psychotic or anti-psychotic effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in patients and healthy individuals, but major support for cannabis in the aetiology of schizophrenia is associative, not causal. To clarify if THC is pro- or anti-psychotic, this single-blind, placebo-controlled within-subjects cross-over study tested several hypotheses. 1) Competing hypotheses that a synthetic THC analogue, Nabilone (NAB, 1-2 mg), would alter measures of agency and embodiment in healthy volunteers (n = 32) similarly, or opposite, to that of in patients with schizophrenia. 2) That there would be significant associations between any NAB-induced alterations in individual agency and embodiment measures in the Projected Hand Illusion (PHI). 3) That there is a unitary spatio-temporal binding window (STBW). A large proportion of individuals did not experience the PHI. Multimodal and bi-directional effects of NAB on the PHI were observed. Evidence of a unitary spatio-temporal binding window (STBW) was observed. NAB widened the STBW in some but narrowed it in others as a function of space and delay. No associations were found between agency and embodiment.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabidiol inhibits THC-elicited paranoid symptoms and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment Healthy participants | 2012 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 48 |
| Distinct Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol on Neural Activation During Emotional Processing Healthy, English-native, right-handed men who had used cannabis 15 times or less in... | 2009 | Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial | n = 15 |
| Acute Effects of a Single, Oral dose of d9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) Administration in Healthy Volunteers Healthy male subjects | 2012 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 16 |
| Modulation of Mediotemporal and Ventrostriatal Function in Humans by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Healthy, native English-speaking, right-handed men of white race/ethnicity who had used... | 2009 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 15 |
| Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition Healthy volunteers with a history of light cannabis use | 2019 | Randomized, double-blind, within-subjects crossover | n = 14 |
Citations in the library
Cites 12
- Disturbances in body ownership in schizophrenia: evidence from the rubber hand illusion and case study of a spontaneous out-of-body experience. PLoS One June 10, 2016
- Neurofunctional correlates of body-ownership and sense of agency: A meta-analytical account of self-consciousness. Cortex December 1, 2019
- The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study The Lancet Psychiatry May 1, 2019
- Separate and combined effects of the cannabinoid agonists nabilone and Δ⁹-THC in humans discriminating Δ⁹-THC. Drug and Alcohol Dependence July 1, 2011
- Substitution profile of the cannabinoid agonist nabilone in human subjects discriminating δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Clinical Neuropharmacology 2010
and 7 more in the library