Neural Mechanisms of Cannabinoid-impaired Decision-Making in Emerging Adults

Purpose

Emerging adults are a particularly vulnerable group for experiencing the immediate and potentially lifelong negative impacts of habitual cannabis use, and trends suggest that cannabis use disorder (CUD) will soon escalate in this population. The proposed research will combine clinical pharmacology, non-invasive brain stimulation, and neuroimaging techniques to establish the brain mechanisms of cannabinoid-impaired decision-making processes in emerging adults with CUD. Results from this project will inform CUD prevention/treatment efforts in this high-risk group and address a growing public health concern.

Conditions

  • Neurosciences
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Behavior Problem

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 34 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Habitual cannabis use problems - Body Mass Index ≤30

Exclusion Criteria

  • Past or current serious physical or mental health - Sesame seed oil allergy - Irregular health issues identified by the Study Physician - Standard magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation exclusion criteria (e.g., metal implants, history of epilepsy, etc.) - Lack of affective form of birth control (females) - Pregnancy (females)

Study Design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Participants will be assigned to either excitatory or inhibitory TMS treatment arms. All individuals will receive multiple doses of oral THC (0, 10 and 30mg) and TMS (real or sham).
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
Single (Investigator)
Masking Description
Functionality will be tested following combinations of THC and TMS will be tested in randomized, double-blind, placebo- and sham-controlled experiments.

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Excitatory TMS 		Individuals assigned to this group will receive excitatory (real and sham) TMS in combination with 0, 10, and 30mg THC.
  • Device: Placebo TMS Sham
    Individuals will receive placebo dose and sham TMS.
    Other names:
    • Placebo
    • Sham TMS
  • Drug: Marinol 10Mg Capsule TMS Sham
    Individuals will receive 10mg dose and sham TMS.
    Other names:
    • 10mg THC
    • Sham TMS
  • Drug: Marinol 30Mg Capsule TMS Sham
    Individuals will receive 30mg dose and sham TMS.
    Other names:
    • 30mg THC
    • Sham TMS
  • Device: Placebo TMS Real
    Individuals will receive placebo and real TMS.
    Other names:
    • Placebo
    • Real TMS
  • Other: Marinol 10Mg Capsule TMS Real
    Individuals will receive10mg THC and real TMS. Intervention type: Other (combination device/drug intervention)
    Other names:
    • 10mg THC
    • Real TMS
  • Other: Marinol 30Mg Capsule TMS Real
    Individuals will receive 30mg THC and real TMS. Intervention type: Other (combination device/drug intervention)
    Other names:
    • 30mg THC
    • Real TMS
Experimental
Inhibitory TMS 		Individuals assigned to this group will receive inhibitory (real and sham) TMS in combination with 0, 10, and 30mg THC.
  • Device: Placebo TMS Sham
    Individuals will receive placebo dose and sham TMS.
    Other names:
    • Placebo
    • Sham TMS
  • Drug: Marinol 10Mg Capsule TMS Sham
    Individuals will receive 10mg dose and sham TMS.
    Other names:
    • 10mg THC
    • Sham TMS
  • Drug: Marinol 30Mg Capsule TMS Sham
    Individuals will receive 30mg dose and sham TMS.
    Other names:
    • 30mg THC
    • Sham TMS
  • Device: Placebo TMS Real
    Individuals will receive placebo and real TMS.
    Other names:
    • Placebo
    • Real TMS
  • Other: Marinol 10Mg Capsule TMS Real
    Individuals will receive10mg THC and real TMS. Intervention type: Other (combination device/drug intervention)
    Other names:
    • 10mg THC
    • Real TMS
  • Other: Marinol 30Mg Capsule TMS Real
    Individuals will receive 30mg THC and real TMS. Intervention type: Other (combination device/drug intervention)
    Other names:
    • 30mg THC
    • Real TMS

Recruiting Locations

More Details

NCT ID
NCT03944954
Status
Completed
Sponsor
Michael J. Wesley, PhD

Detailed Description

This mentored career development award (K01) will enable Dr. Michael J. Wesley to achieve his long-term goal of becoming an independent investigator with a clinical research program examining cannabis use disorder (CUD) in emerging adults, which is a current NIDA funding priority. Dr. Wesley is a new Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Medicine. The activities proposed in this award build on Dr. Wesley's background in neuroimaging and drug abuse research and will allow him to accomplish these specific short-term objectives: Become an expert in (1) clinical pharmacology and (2) non-invasive brain stimulation research, and enhance/develop his (3) knowledge of the responsible conduct of research, (4) skills for scientific communication and grant writing, and (5) ability to manage an independent research program. UK has numerous faculty and projects focused on drug abuse research and is an ideal environment for Dr. Wesley to successfully complete this award. Dr. Wesley has assembled a stellar mentoring team consisting of Dr. Josh Lile (Mentor), who runs a successful NIH-funded clinical pharmacology research program at UK and Drs. Mark George (Co-Mentor) and Colleen A. Hanlon of the Brain Stimulation Laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina, Together they will guide and oversee Dr. Wesley's training in clinical pharmacology, brain stimulation, and scientific communication and grant writing. Dr. Wesley has proposed to engage in a series of formal classes, lab exchanges, and research seminars/meetings that will assist him in accomplishing the objectives of this award. The proposed research project is novel, innovative, and rigorous. It will combine the acute administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, with brain stimulation and neuroimaging to examine the role of the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and connected brain areas in drug-impaired decision-making processes. Specifically, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be used to raise or lower DLPFC functionality following the administration THC in randomized, double-blind, placebo- and sham-controlled experiments. Aim 1 will test the hypotheses that excitatory TMS (raising DLPFC functionality) will attenuate the impairing effects of THC on study outcomes. Aim 2 will test the hypotheses that inhibitory TMS (lowering DLPFC functionality) will enhance the impairing effects of THC on study outcomes. Results from this project will improve the investigator's understanding of the mechanisms involved in cannabis-impaired decision-making, which will inform CUD management and address a growing public health concern.