Task-independent acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on human brain function and its relationship with cannabinoid receptor gene expression: a neuroimaging meta-regression analysis
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) November 3, 2021 Brandon Gunasekera, Cathy Davies, Grace Blest‐hopley et al. preprint
A single dose of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) alters brain activation signals in a widespread network of regions, with some areas showing increased and others decreased activity. The magnitude of these changes is directly related to the local expression of the cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptor, but not the type-2 (CB2) receptor. THC increased activation in the anterior cingulate, superior frontal cortices, middle temporal and occipital gyri, striatum, amygdala, thalamus, and cerebellum crus II, while decreasing it in the middle temporal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, angular gyrus, precuneus, cuneus, inferior parietal lobule, and cerebellum lobule IV/V. A dose-response relationship was observed in certain brain regions.