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Abstract #1061

Pharmacologic Resting State-FMRI: Effects of Cannabis on Functional Brain Connectivity at Rest

Roelof Peter Soeter1,2, Linda E. Klumpers3, Naj Khalili-Mahani1,2, Mark A. van Buchem1,2, Serge A.R.B. Rombouts1,2, Joop M.A. van Gerven, 3,4

1Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, Netherlands; 2Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, Netherlands; 3Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, Netherlands; 4Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, Netherlands


Resting state FMRI is a promising technique for drug studies, because it allows a repeated task-independent assessment of functional interactions between brain regions (functional connectivity). Here we investigate the effects of THC, the psychoactive compound of cannabis, on functional brain connectivity. Nine healthy male volunteers participated in a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 8 RS-FMRI scans were obtained in each treatment occasion. THC administration decreased connectivity in different brain regions, including cerebellum and several cortical regions. Functional connectivity using RS-FMRI is a promising new technique to study pharmacologically induced changes in brain activity.

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