Modulation of auditory and visual processing by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol: an FMRI study.
Toby T Winton-Brown, Paul Allen, Sagnik Bhattacharyya, Stefan Borgwardt, Paolo Fusar‐poli, José A. Crippa, Marc L. Seal, Rocío Martín‐Santos, Dominic H Ffytche, Antonio W. Zuardi, Zerrin Atakan, Philip Mcguire
Neuropsychopharmacology June 2011 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2011.17 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized crossover trial Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers |
| Interventions | Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Cannabidiol (CBD) Placebo |
| Dose | 10 mg THC, 600 mg CBD |
| Topics | Cannabis CBD |
| Key findings | THC increased anxiety, intoxication, and positive psychotic symptoms, and decreased activation in bilateral temporal cortices during auditory processing, while CBD had no significant symptomatic effects and increased activation in right temporal cortex. THC and CBD had opposite effects in the right posterior superior temporal gyrus, and THC's attenuation of activation there correlated with its acute psychotic symptom effects. |
Abstract
Although the effects of cannabis on perception are well documented, little is known about their neural basis or how these may contribute to the formation of psychotic symptoms. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess the effects of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) during visual and auditory processing in healthy volunteers. In total, 14 healthy volunteers were scanned on three occasions. Identical 10 mg THC, 600 mg CBD, and placebo capsules were allocated in a balanced double-blinded pseudo-randomized crossover design. Plasma levels of each substance, physiological parameters, and measures of psychopathology were taken at baseline and at regular intervals following ingestion of substances. Volunteers listened passively to words read and viewed a radial visual checkerboard in alternating blocks during fMRI scanning. Administration of THC was associated with increases in anxiety, intoxication, and positive psychotic symptoms, whereas CBD had no significant symptomatic effects. THC decreased activation relative to placebo in bilateral temporal cortices during auditory processing, and increased and decreased activation in different visual areas during visual processing. CBD was associated with activation in right temporal cortex during auditory processing, and when contrasted, THC and CBD had opposite effects in the right posterior superior temporal gyrus, the right-sided homolog to Wernicke's area. Moreover, the attenuation of activation in this area (maximum 61, -15, -2) by THC during auditory processing was correlated with its acute effect on psychotic symptoms. Single doses of THC and CBD differently modulate brain function in areas that process auditory and visual stimuli and relate to induced psychotic symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on CBD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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- Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age Frontiers in Immunology September 21, 2018
- Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition Psychopharmacology May 1, 2019
- Human Laboratory Studies on Cannabinoids and Psychosis. Biological Psychiatry April 1, 2016
- Effects of Cannabis on Impulsivity: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Findings Current Pharmaceutical Design May 10, 2014
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Cites 11
- Distinct Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol on Neural Activation During Emotional Processing Archives of General Psychiatry 2009
- Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research April 1, 2006
- Modulation of Mediotemporal and Ventrostriatal Function in Humans by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Archives of General Psychiatry April 1, 2009
- Neural basis of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol: effects during response inhibition. Biological Psychiatry December 1, 2008
- The diverse CB1 and CB2 receptor pharmacology of three plant cannabinoids: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin. British Journal of Pharmacology January 2008
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