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Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

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Published on: August 18, 2020

Marijuana craving in the brain.

Francesca M Filbey1, Joseph P Schacht, Ursula S Myers

  • 1The Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Boulevard, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA. ffilbey@mrn.org

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Marijuana cue-elicited craving activates brain reward pathways similar to other addictive drugs. Greater activation in these areas correlated with increased cannabis-related problems, suggesting potential treatment targets for cannabis dependence.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Addiction Research
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Cue-elicited craving is a key factor in drug addiction.
  • Research on marijuana's cue-elicited craving neurobiology is limited compared to other substances.
  • Existing research links cue-elicited craving in other addictions to reward pathway activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neurobiological basis of cue-elicited craving for marijuana using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
  • To identify specific brain regions activated by marijuana cues.
  • To explore the relationship between brain activation and the severity of marijuana use problems.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to scan 38 regular marijuana users.
  • Participants abstained from marijuana for 72 hours prior to the scan.
  • Participants were exposed to tactile marijuana-related and neutral cues during the fMRI scan.

Main Results:

  • Exposure to marijuana cues led to increased blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation in reward pathway structures, including the ventral tegmental area, thalamus, anterior cingulate, insula, and amygdala.
  • Activation in the orbitofrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens positively correlated with self-reported marijuana problems.
  • Higher BOLD activation in these regions was associated with a greater number of reported marijuana-related problems.

Conclusions:

  • Cue-elicited craving for marijuana engages the brain's reward circuitry, mirroring mechanisms seen in other substance use disorders.
  • The magnitude of activation in specific reward-related brain regions is linked to the severity of cannabis-related issues.
  • These findings provide insights into the neuropathology of cannabis dependence and may guide the development of targeted interventions.