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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
09:26
Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
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Intoxication due to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is characterized by disrupted prefrontal cortex activity
Keerthana Deepti Karunakaran1,2, Michael Pascale1, Nisan Ozana3,4
1Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA.
Summary
Acute cannabis intoxication disrupts prefrontal cortex (PFC) brain activity. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) reduced functional connectivity and altered neural dynamics in the PFC, potentially explaining cognitive impairments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Neural mechanisms of cannabis intoxication remain unclear.
- Prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for cognitive functions and is a primary target of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of acute THC intoxication on resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in the PFC.
- To assess changes in neural dynamics and spectral power within the PFC during intoxication.
Main Methods:
- Double-blind, randomized, cross-over study involving regular cannabis users.
- Oral administration of individually dosed THC or placebo.
- Assessment of PFC activity using portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Main Results:
- THC increased subjective intoxication and heart rate.
- THC decreased static RSFC within the PFC, with greater disruption correlating with higher intoxication severity.
- THC increased dynamic RSFC variability and reduced spectral power in the PFC.
Conclusions:
- Acute THC intoxication disrupts PFC neural dynamics, including functional connectivity and spectral power.
- These neural alterations may underlie the cognitive impairing effects of THC.
- Portable fNIRS can detect these THC-induced neural changes in the PFC.
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