Despite marijuana being the most commonly abused illicit drug in the U.S., the mechanisms of action for known risk factors that increase susceptibility to marijuana's rewarding effects remain unknown. Building upon our studies on the neural mechanisms of cue-elicited craving in marijuana dependence, the goal of these studies is to characterize the mechanisms by which genetic and environmental factors moderate the brain's response to marijuana cues. Specifically, we will test the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) genes, which are associated with craving for marijuana, and, an environmental factor with links to the development of substance abuse, and which our early findings suggest is positively associated with response to cues, namely early life stress. To that end, we will record fMRI BOLD response in current heavy marijuana users during a marijuana cue exposure task, and determine the main effects and interactions between the genetic (i.e., CNR1, FAAH) and environmental (i.e., early life stress) variables. Based on our preliminary findings, we predict that the genetic and environmental variables will moderate the neural response to cues in reward areas of the brain. The proposed work will corroborate the contributions of genetic (i.e., CNR1 and FAAH genes) and environmental (i.e., early life stress) risk factors towards marijuana dependence and, more importantly, uncover the mechanisms by which these known risk factors increase morbidity for marijuana dependence. The successful completion of these studies will help identify individuals who are at risk for marijuana dependence and inform on more targeted treatment.

Public Health Relevance

The reasons why the mechanisms by which risk factors increase risk for marijuana dependence must be uncovered are: (1) Marijuana continues to be the most widely used illicit drug, (2) There has been a large increase in rate of treatment admission for marijuana dependence in the last decade, (3) Rate of initiation is highest during the critical neurodevelopmental period of adolescence, and (4) There continues to be a large gap in the literature on biobehavioral mechanisms that lead to marijuana dependence. The proposed studies are designed to test how specific genetic variations and environmental factors that are associated with marijuana dependence influence the brain's sensitivity to marijuana cues. Improvements in our understanding of these neurobiological mechanisms will lead to better preventative intervention strategies that identify high-risk individuals and target specific neurobiological systems.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA030344-02
Application #
8437137
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Intervention for Addictions Study Section (RPIA)
Program Officer
Gordon, Harold
Project Start
2012-03-15
Project End
2017-02-28
Budget Start
2013-03-01
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$373,654
Indirect Cost
$120,051
Name
University of Texas-Dallas
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
800188161
City
Richardson
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75080
Cousijn, Janna; Núñez, Adrián E; Filbey, Francesca M (2018) Time to acknowledge the mixed effects of cannabis on health: a summary and critical review of the NASEM 2017 report on the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids. Addiction 113:958-966
Filbey, Francesca M; Gohel, Suril; Prashad, Shikha et al. (2018) Differential associations of combined vs. isolated cannabis and nicotine on brain resting state networks. Brain Struct Funct :
Vergara, Victor M; Weiland, Barbara J; Hutchison, Kent E et al. (2018) The Impact of Combinations of Alcohol, Nicotine, and Cannabis on Dynamic Brain Connectivity. Neuropsychopharmacology 43:877-890
Filbey, Francesca M; Aslan, Sina; Lu, Hanzhang et al. (2018) Residual Effects of THC via Novel Measures of Brain Perfusion and Metabolism in a Large Group of Chronic Cannabis Users. Neuropsychopharmacology 43:700-707
Gu, Xiaosi; Filbey, Francesca (2017) A Bayesian Observer Model of Drug Craving. JAMA Psychiatry 74:419-420
Prashad, Shikha; Filbey, Francesca M (2017) Cognitive motor deficits in cannabis users. Curr Opin Behav Sci 13:1-7
Ketcherside, Ariel; Noble, Lindsey J; McIntyre, Christa K et al. (2017) Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Gene by Cannabis Use Interaction on CB1 Receptor Density. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2:202-209
Prashad, Shikha; Milligan, Amber L; Cousijn, Janna et al. (2017) Cross-Cultural Effects of Cannabis Use Disorder: Evidence to Support a Cultural Neuroscience Approach. Curr Addict Rep 4:100-109
Filbey, Francesca M; Dunlop, Joseph; Ketcherside, Ariel et al. (2016) fMRI study of neural sensitization to hedonic stimuli in long-term, daily cannabis users. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3431-43
Ketcherside, Ariel; Jeon-Slaughter, Haekyung; Baine, Jessica L et al. (2016) Discriminability of personality profiles in isolated and Co-morbid marijuana and nicotine users. Psychiatry Res 238:356-362

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