Acute effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on resting state connectivity networks and impact of COMT genotype: A multi-site pharmacological fMRI study
Drug and Alcohol Dependence August 11, 2023 Teuntje A. D. Pelgrim, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Matthew B. Wall et al. 3 citations
THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, reduces functional connectivity in the salience network—a brain system involved in processing awareness and salient information—specifically weakening connections from the right insula to the left insula and anterior cingulate cortex. A trend toward decreased connectivity was also observed in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network, which may relate to acute psychotic-like effects. The COMT Val158Met genotype modulated subjective responses: individuals with the Met/Met genotype experienced the strongest dysphoric reactions and showed reduced connectivity in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network after THC. These findings suggest that prefrontal dopamine levels influence the acute effects of cannabis.