A systematic review of neuroimaging and acute cannabis exposure in age-of-risk for psychosis
Lani Cupo, Eric Plitman, Elisa Guma, M. Mallar Chakravarty
Translational Psychiatry April 13, 2021 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01295-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol cannabidiol |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | The review reports that cannabis exposure has varied effects on the brain, with THC and CBD altering activity across different regions. THC impacted networks often dysregulated in psychosis, including the default mode network and limbic system. The authors identify gaps concerning sex-dependent responses and long-term effects of chronic exposure. |
Abstract
AbstractAcute 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.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- The thalamus in psychosis spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023
- Impact of cannabis use on brain metabolism using 31P and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy Neuroradiology September 22, 2023
- Acute cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and their mixture (THC:CBD) exert differential effects on brain activity and blood flow in rats: A translational neuroimaging study. Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2026
- Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Alters Limbic and Frontal Functional Brain Connectomes Among Young Adult Cannabis Users. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging May 1, 2026
- Cannabis Use Interacts With Psychosis Vulnerability in Borderline Personality Disorder: La consommation de cannabis interagit avec la vulnérabilité à la psychose dans le trouble de la personnalité limite The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry September 11, 2026
and 6 more in the library
Cites 32
- Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity in Psychopathology Annual Review of Clinical Psychology March 29, 2012
- Distinct Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol on Neural Activation During Emotional Processing Archives of General Psychiatry 2009
- Modulation of Mediotemporal and Ventrostriatal Function in Humans by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Archives of General Psychiatry April 1, 2009
- Cannabis and cocaine decrease cognitive impulse control and functional corticostriatal connectivity in drug users with low activity DBH genotypes Brain Imaging and Behavior December 14, 2015
- Evidence for involvement of the insula in the psychotropic effects of THC in humans: a double-blind, randomized pharmacological MRI study The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology April 14, 2011
and 27 more in the library