Functional connectivity alterations in brain networks relevant to self-awareness in chronic cannabis users

Pujol, Jesús; Blanco‐Hinojo, Laura; Batalla, Albert; López‐Solà, Marina; Harrison, Ben J; Soriano‐Mas, Carles; Crippa, José Alexandre de Souza; Fagundo, Ana B.; Deus, Joan; Torre, Rafael de la; Nogué, Santiago; Farré, Magı́; Torrens, Marta; Martín‐Santos, Rocío

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.12.008

Cited by 91 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…In addition, PCC-right anterior insula connectivity strength correlated with duration of cannabis use. This finding is consistent with the Pujol and colleagues study (2014) showing that average joints per year positively correlated with PCC-right anterior insula connectivity strength. The anterior insula is a key component of the SN involved in interoceptive and visceral awareness (Caseras et al, 2013; Critchley et al, 2004) and functions along with the ACC and amygdala in integrating external and internal stimuli (Sutherland et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Together, these findings indicate that cannabis and tobacco use have differential effects on the DMN. It is important to note, however, that Pujol and colleagues (2014) did not report or control for cigarette use among their heavy cannabis users, and Weiland and colleagues (2014) did not report or control for cannabis use among their smoking sample. Consequently, findings from these studies may be confounded by co-occurring use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…One resting state fMRI study compared the DMN and other neural networks associated with self-referential processes (i.e., Insula network) in heavy cannabis users compared to healthy controls and found that cannabis users showed increased functional connectivity in the core nodes of the DMN and Insula networks and reduced functional connectivity in areas overlapping with other brain networks (Pujol et al, 2014). In a resting-state functional connectivity study among cigarette smokers, Weiland and colleagues (2014) compared DMN and ECN connectivity of smokers and non-smokers and found reduced connectivity strength within both the DMN and ECN of smokers relative to non-smokers (Weiland et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cannabis, cigarettes, and their co-occurring use: Disentangling differences in default mode network functional connectivity

Wetherill

Fang

Jagannathan

et al. 2015

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Background Resting-state functional connectivity is a noninvasive, neuroimaging method for assessing neural network function. Altered functional connectivity among regions of the default-mode network have been associated with both nicotine and cannabis use; however, less is known about co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use. Methods We used posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) seed-based resting-state functional connectivity analyses to examine default mode network (DMN) connectivity strength differences between four groups: 1) individuals diagnosed with cannabis dependence who do not smoke tobacco (n=19; ages 20–50), 2) cannabis-dependent individuals who smoke tobacco (n=23, ages 21–52), 3) cannabis-naïve, nicotine-dependent individuals who smoke tobacco (n=24, ages 21–57), and 4) cannabis- and tobacco-naïve healthy controls (n=21, ages 21–50), controlling for age, sex, and alcohol use. We also explored associations between connectivity strength and measures of cannabis and tobacco use. Results PCC seed-based analyses identified the core nodes of the DMN (i.e., PCC, medial prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal cortex, and temporal cortex). In general, the cannabis-dependent, nicotine-dependent, and co-occurring use groups showed lower DMN connectivity strengths than controls, with unique group differences in connectivity strength between the PCC and the cerebellum, medial prefrontal cortex, parahippocampus, and anterior insula. In cannabis-dependent individuals, PCC-right anterior insula connectivity strength correlated with duration of cannabis use. Conclusions This study extends previous research that independently examined the differences in resting-state functional connectivity among individuals who smoke cannabis and tobacco by including an examination of co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use and provides further evidence that cannabis and tobacco exposure is associated with alterations in DMN connectivity.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cannabis, cigarettes, and their co-occurring use: Disentangling differences in default mode network functional connectivity

Wetherill

Fang

Jagannathan

et al. 2015

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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“…Our results are also in line with studies demonstrating altered brain network connectivity under the influence of drugs that induce psychotic symptoms (Diaconescu et al, 2010;Esposito et al, 2013;Pujol et al, 2013) and studies demonstrating altered connectivity in different stages of schizophrenia (Pettersson-Yeo et al, 2011). This may suggest that altered functional connectivity under the influence of delta-9-THC might be a plausible mechanism through which regular cannabis consumption increases the risk of development of schizophrenia.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Cannabinoid Modulation of Functional Connectivity within Regions Processing Attentional Salience

Bhattacharyya

Falkenberg

Martín‐Santos

et al. 2014

Neuropsychopharmacol

105

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There is now considerable evidence to support the hypothesis that psychotic symptoms are the result of abnormal salience attribution, and that the attribution of salience is largely mediated through the prefrontal cortex, the striatum, and the hippocampus. Although these areas show differential activation under the influence of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), the two major derivatives of cannabis sativa, little is known about the effects of these cannabinoids on the functional connectivity between these regions. We investigated this in healthy occasional cannabis users by employing event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) following oral administration of delta-9-THC, CBD, or a placebo capsule. Employing a seed cluster-based functional connectivity analysis that involved using the average time series from each seed cluster for a whole-brain correlational analysis, we investigated the effect of drug condition on functional connectivity between the seed clusters and the rest of the brain during an oddball salience processing task. Relative to the placebo condition, delta-9-THC and CBD had opposite effects on the functional connectivity between the dorsal striatum, the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus. Delta-9-THC reduced fronto-striatal connectivity, which was related to its effect on task performance, whereas this connection was enhanced by CBD. Conversely, mediotemporal-prefrontal connectivity was enhanced by delta-9-THC and reduced by CBD. Our results suggest that the functional integration of brain regions involved in salience processing is differentially modulated by single doses of delta-9-THC and CBD and that this relates to the processing of salient stimuli.

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“…These results match the resting-state functional connectivity when the pACC is treated as a seed [62]. Similarly, clinical work has shown changes of neural coupling between the medial PFC and other brain regions when patients process self-related information [63,64]. For example, researchers reported that altered self-awareness in Alzheimer's disease patients is associated with changes in functional connectivity between the medial PFC and other cortical midline structures and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [63].…”

Section: Self-reference Enhances the Coupling Between Brain Regionssupporting

confidence: 62%

The Integrative Self: How Self-Reference Integrates Perception and Memory

Sui

Humphreys

2015

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

381

364

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We propose a new account of how self-reference affects information processing. We report evidence that self-reference affects the binding of memory to source, the integration of parts into perceptual wholes, and the ability to switch from a prior association to new associations. Self-reference also influences the integration of different stages of processing, linking attention to decision making, and affects the coupling between brain regions mediating self-representation and attention to the environment. Taken together, the data suggest that self-reference acts as a form of 'integrative glue' which can either enhance or disrupt performance, depending on the task context. We discuss the implications for understanding the self, and future directions for research.

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Functional connectivity alterations in brain networks relevant to self-awareness in chronic cannabis users

Cited by 91 publications

References 61 publications

Cannabis, cigarettes, and their co-occurring use: Disentangling differences in default mode network functional connectivity

Cannabis, cigarettes, and their co-occurring use: Disentangling differences in default mode network functional connectivity

Cannabinoid Modulation of Functional Connectivity within Regions Processing Attentional Salience

The Integrative Self: How Self-Reference Integrates Perception and Memory

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