Effect of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Frontostriatal Resting State Functional Connectivity and Subjective Euphoric Response in Healthy Young Adults
Drug and Alcohol Dependence February 3, 2021 Natania A. Crane, K. Phan
An acute dose of THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, increased resting-state functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in healthy young adults with limited cannabis use, compared to placebo. Participants receiving THC also reported higher subjective euphoria, and greater euphoria was linked to stronger NAcc-dorsal mPFC connectivity in the THC group but not the placebo group. These findings suggest THC may produce subjective and neural reward responses that contribute to cannabis's reinforcing properties.