Shifted balance of dorsal versus ventral striatal communication with frontal reward and regulatory regions in cannabis‐dependent males
Feng Zhou, Kaeli Zimmermann, Fei Xin, Dirk Scheele, Wolfgang Dau, Markus Banger, Bernd Weber, René Hurlemann, Keith Maurice Kendrick, Benjamin Becker
Human Brain Mapping September 12, 2018 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24345 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case-control resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 52 |
| Population | Abstinent (28 days) male cannabis-dependent individuals (n = 24) and matched healthy controls (n = 28) |
| Duration | 28 days of abstinence at scanning |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Citations | 80 |
| Key findings | Cannabis-dependent men showed increased ventral striatum–rostral anterior cingulate connectivity and reduced coupling of both ventral and dorsal striatum with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. The authors argue this pattern suggests a shift in the balance between dorsal and ventral striatal control, resembling changes seen in animal models and potentially promoting loss of control in addictive behavior. |
Abstract
The transition from voluntary to addictive behavior is characterized by a loss of regulatory control in favor of reward driven behavior. Animal models indicate that this process is neurally underpinned by a shift in ventral-dorsal striatal control of behavior; however, this shift has not been directly examined in humans. The present resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study employed a two-step approach to: (a) precisely map striatal alterations using a novel, data-driven network classification strategy combining intrinsic connectivity contrast with multivoxel pattern analysis and, (b) to determine whether a ventral to dorsal striatal shift in connectivity with reward and regulatory control regions can be observed in abstinent (28 days) male cannabis-dependent individuals (n = 24) relative to matched controls (n = 28). Network classification revealed that the groups can be reliably discriminated by global connectivity profiles of two striatal regions that mapped onto the ventral (nucleus accumbens) and dorsal striatum (caudate). Subsequent functional connectivity analysis demonstrated a relative shift between ventral and dorsal striatal communication with fronto-limbic regions that have been consistently involved in reward processing (rostral anterior cingulate cortex [ACC]) and executive/regulatory functions (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex [PFC]). Specifically, in the cannabis-dependent subjects, connectivity between the ventral striatum with the rostral ACC increased, whereas both striatal regions were uncoupled from the regulatory dorsomedial PFC. Together, these findings suggest a shift in the balance between dorsal and ventral striatal control in cannabis dependence. Similar changes have been observed in animal models and may promote the loss of control central to addictive behavior.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis People with first episode of psychosis and healthy controls from the local population | 2009 | Case-control study | n = 454 |
| Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population | 2013 | Observational study | |
| Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people | 2000 | Observational | |
| Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study Individuals from the general population in Germany aged 14-24 at baseline | 2011 | Observational cohort | n = 1,923 |
| Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases Patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms in Denmark between 1994 and... | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 535 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Impaired cognitive performance under psychosocial stress in cannabis-dependent men is associated with attenuated precuneus activity Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience February 26, 2020
- Cannabis Use and Neuroadaptation: A Call for Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Challenge Studies Frontiers in Psychiatry April 14, 2022
- Impaired cognitive performance under psycho-social stress in cannabis-dependent males is mediated by attenuated precuneus activity bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) September 29, 2018
- The intersectionality of cannabis use and depression symptoms on functional brain topology in adults. Drug and Alcohol Dependence April 1, 2026
- Chronic cannabis use is associated with alterations in resting-state cerebellar-cortical connectivity. Psychopharmacology December 12, 2025
and 2 more in the library
Cites 7
- Effects of Cannabis on Impulsivity: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Findings Current Pharmaceutical Design May 10, 2014
- Attenuated frontal and sensory inputs to the basal ganglia in cannabis users Addiction Biology March 3, 2016
- Altered Insula Connectivity under MDMA. Neuropsychopharmacology February 14, 2017
- Altered orbitofrontal activity and dorsal striatal connectivity during emotion processing in dependent marijuana users after 28 days of abstinence. Psychopharmacology March 2018
- Neuroimaging meta-analysis of cannabis use studies reveals convergent functional alterations in brain regions supporting cognitive control and reward processing. Journal of Psychopharmacology March 2018
and 2 more in the library