The Relationship Between Cannabinoids and Neural Oscillations: How Cannabis Disrupts Sensation, Perception, and Cognition

Disruptions in neural oscillations are believed to be one critical mechanism by which cannabinoids, such as delta-9-tetrahyrdrocannabinol (THC; the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis), perturbs brain function. Here we briefly review the role of synchronized neural activity, particularly in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical EEG and neuroscience 2023-07, Vol.54 (4), p.359-369
Main Authors: Syed, Shariful A., Schnakenberg Martin, Ashley M., Cortes-Briones, Jose A., Skosnik, Patrick D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cannabinoids
Cannabis
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
EEG
Marijuana
Mental disorders
Neural networks
Oscillations
Perception
Schizophrenia
Sensation
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Theta rhythms
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Summary:Disruptions in neural oscillations are believed to be one critical mechanism by which cannabinoids, such as delta-9-tetrahyrdrocannabinol (THC; the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis), perturbs brain function. Here we briefly review the role of synchronized neural activity, particularly in the gamma (30–80 Hz) and theta (4–7 Hz) frequency range, in sensation, perception, and cognition. This is followed by a review of clinical studies utilizing electroencephalography (EEG) which have demonstrated that both chronic and acute cannabinoid exposure disrupts neural oscillations in humans. We also offer a hypothetical framework through which endocannabinoids modulate neural synchrony at the network level. This also includes speculation on how both chronic and acute cannabinoids disrupt functionally relevant neural oscillations by altering the fine tuning of oscillations and the inhibitory/excitatory balance of neural circuits. Finally, we highlight important clinical implications of such oscillatory disruptions, such as the potential relationship between cannabis use, altered neural synchrony, and disruptions in sensation, perception, and cognition, which are perturbed in disorders such as schizophrenia.
ISSN:1550-0594
2169-5202
DOI:10.1177/15500594221138280