The altered state of consciousness induced by Δ9-THC.
Conor H. Murray, Bhargav Srinivasa Desikan
Consciousness and Cognition May 28, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2022.103357 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | Healthy, infrequent cannabis users |
| Intervention | THC |
| Dose | 7.5 and 15 mg oral THC |
| Topics | Cannabis Altered states of consciousness |
| Keywords | Consciousness Psychoactive-substances Brain-function |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key findings | THC dose-dependently increased measures of altered states of consciousness, including insightfulness, mindfulness, mind-wandering, and language entropy. |
Abstract
Altered states of consciousness (ASC) provide an opportunity for researchers to study the neurophysiological basis of changes in phenomenal experience. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis, however whether the effects of THC include ASC features that are shared with other ASC induction mechanisms, such as classical psychedelics, has not been systematically addressed. We used survey (11D-ASC; State Mindfulness), self-report, and natural language processing (NLP) to assess 7.5 and 15 mg oral THC, relative to placebo, in 25 healthy, infrequent cannabis users. THC dose-dependently increased measures of ASC including Insightfulness, and increased ratings of mindfulness and mind-wandering. THC also increased language entropy as previously reported for LSD. Future studies may seek to determine whether reports of increased mindfulness or insight after THC are primarily representative of a psychotomimetic state (i.e., delusional thinking) or conversely, reflect an enhancement of conscious awareness that may be validated empirically.
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
Cited by 12
- Neural complexity is increased after low doses of LSD, but not moderate to high doses of oral THC or methamphetamine. Neuropsychopharmacology June 1, 2024
- Addressing blinding in classic psychedelic studies with innovative active placebos. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology April 1, 2025
- Systematic review and rationale of using psychedelics in the treatment of cannabis use disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023
- Sex differences in the acute effects of cannabis on human cognition: A systematic review. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology October 1, 2025
- Naturalistic use of psychedelics does not modulate processing of self-related stimuli (but it might modulate attentional mechanisms): An event-related potentials study. Psychophysiology August 1, 2024
and 7 more in the library
Cites 57
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience August 13, 2007
- The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 23, 2012
and 52 more in the library