The impact of a focused behavioral intervention on brain cannabinoid signaling and interoceptive function: Implications for mood and anxiety

A six-week Wim Hof method intervention—combining deep breathing, cold exposure, and meditation—increased cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor binding by about 20% across the brain in four male participants. The largest increases occurred in regions linked to interoception, including the anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior insular cortex, and brainstem. After the intervention, during a whole-body cold-stress test, participants showed greater activation in the anterior insula and orbitofrontal cortex, areas tied to interoceptive and executive functions. These findings suggest that the Wim Hof method may positively influence brain markers associated with stress resistance, mood, anxiety, and interoceptive awareness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The Wim Hof method (WHM) is a behavioral intervention technique that consists of deep breathing exercises, cold exposure and meditation. In light of the crucial role of the cannabinoid system in modulating neurotransmitter release through a negative feedback mechanism that aims at the maintenance of network homeostasis, our study investigated changes in cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor binding following a longitudinal (6 weeks) WHM intervention in 4 male controls using the F18]FMPEP-d2 PET tracer, an inverse CB1 receptor agonist. Results revealed a global increase in CB1 receptor binding of ~20%, with largest increases found in brain regions associated with the interoceptive network such as the anterior cingulate, the orbitofrontal cortex OFC), the anterior insular cortex (AIC) and the brainstem. Furthermore, in the same participants a whole-body cold-stress paradigm was used to systematically evoke sympathetic and parasympathetic responses. Post-intervention, participants showed increased engagement of regions like the anterior insula and the orbitofrontal cortex that have been respectively classified as belonging to the brain’s interoceptive (AIC) and executive (OFC) sub-networks. Our results suggest that a relatively short 6-week WHM intervention positively impacts brain markers that have been associated with stress resistance, mood, anxiety and interoceptive function.