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Individual prolactin reactivity modulates response of nucleus accumbens to erotic stimuli during acute cannabis intoxication: an fMRI pilot study.

Renáta Androvičová, J Horacek, Jaroslav Tintěra, Jaroslav Hlinka, Jan Rydlo, D Jezova, Marie Balíková, Tomáš Hložek, Petra Mikšátková, Martin Kuchař, M Roman, P Tomicek, Filip Tylš, Michaela Viktorinová, Tomáš Páleníček

Psychopharmacology July 2017 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4601-1 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Open-randomized study Pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size 21
Population Heterosexual casual cannabis users
Intervention Cannabis
Topics Cannabis
Keywords Cortisol Dopamine Hypoactive sexual desire Hypothalamus Nucleus accumbens Prolactin FMRI
Key points Cannabis intoxication increased activation of the right nucleus accumbens in response to erotic pictures among users who reported prior aphrodisiac effects (Group A), while decreasing activation in those who did not (Group non-A). The authors report a significant group-by-intoxication interaction, with elevated prolactin in Group non-A during intoxication, and suggest the effect may be useful in treating low sexual desire.

Abstract

Self-report studies indicate that cannabis could increase sexual desire in some users. We hypothesized that intoxication increases activation of brain areas responsive to visual erotica, which could be useful in the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a condition marked by a lack of sexual desire. The aim of this study is to assess the aphrodisiacal properties of cannabis. We conducted an open-randomized study with 21 heterosexual casual cannabis users. A 3T MRI was used to measure brain activation in response to erotic pictures. Blood samples were collected to determine the serum levels of cannabinoids, cortisol and prolactin. Participants were grouped according to whether they had ever experienced any aphrodisiacal effects during intoxication (Group A) or not (Group non-A). Intoxication was found to significantly increase activation in the right nucleus accumbens in the Group A while significantly decreasing activation in the Group non-A. There was also a significant interaction between the group and intoxication, with elevated prolactin in the Group non-A during intoxication. No intoxication-related differences in subjective picture evaluations were found. Cannabis intoxication increases activation of the right nucleus accumbens to erotic stimuli. This effect is limited to users whose prolactin is not elevated in response to intoxication. This effect may be useful in the treatment of low sexual desire.

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