Abstract
Despite the widespread abuse of marijuana, knowledge about its effects in the human brain is limited. Brain glucose metabolism with and without Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (main psychoactive component of marijuana) was evaluated in eight normal subjects and eight chronic marijuana abusers with positron emission tomography. At baseline, marijuana abusers showed lower relative cerebellar metabolism than normal subjects. THC increased relative cerebellar metabolism in all subjects, but only abusers showed increases in orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, and basal ganglia. Cerebellar metabolism during THC intoxication was significantly correlated with the subjective sense of intoxication. The decreased cerebellar metabolism in marijuana abusers at baseline could account for the motor deficits previously reported in these subjects. The activation of orbitofrontal cortex and basal ganglia by THC in the abusers but not in the normal subjects could underlie one of the mechanisms leading to the drive and the compulsion to self- administer the drug observed in addicted individuals.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 29-38 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Psychiatry Research - Neuroimaging |
Volume | 67 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 31 1996 |
Keywords
- Basal ganglia
- Cerebellum
- Delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol
- Orbitofrontal cortex
- Positron emission tomography
- Substance abuse
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience (miscellaneous)
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Psychiatry and Mental health