Involvement of the endocannabinoid system in reward processing in the human brain.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Disturbed reward processing in humans has been associated with a number of disorders, such as depression, addiction, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has been implicated in reward processing in animals, but in humans, the relation between eCB functioning and reward is less clear.

Objectives

The current study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the role of the eCB system in reward processing in humans by examining the effect of the eCB agonist Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on reward-related brain activity.

Methods

Eleven healthy males participated in a randomized placebo-controlled pharmacological fMRI study with administration of THC to challenge the eCB system. We compared anticipa

SUBMITTER: van Hell HH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3266503 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature