Neuromodulation for Cannabis Use: A Scoping Review

Overview

Journal Brain Sci

Publisher MDPI

Date 2024 Apr 27

PMID 38672008

Authors

Anthony Ngoy

Victor M Tang

Kebin Xiao

Daniel M Blumberger

Tony P George

Joshua L Gowin

Bernard Le Foll

Matthew E Sloan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This scoping review explores the use of neuromodulation techniques in individuals with cannabis use. Our goal was to determine whether cannabis use alters cortical excitation and inhibition in the context of neuromodulation and to determine whether neuromodulation affects craving and cannabis use patterns. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, OVID Medline, and PsycINFO from inception to 20 December 2022. Our review identified ten relevant studies, eight of which used Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), while two employed Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Findings from TMS studies suggest that cannabis users exhibit altered cortical inhibition, with decreased short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) compared to non-users. Single sessions of rTMS did not have any impact on cannabis craving. By contrast, two studies found that multiple sessions of rTMS reduced cannabis use, but these changes did not meet the threshold for statistical significance and both studies were limited by small sample sizes. The two included tDCS studies found contradictory results, with one showing reduced cannabis craving with active treatment and another showing no effect of active treatment on craving compared to sham. Future studies should further explore the effects of multiple treatment sessions and different neuromodulation modalities.

Citing Articles

Cannabis use disorder: from neurobiology to treatment.

Le Foll B, Tang V, Rueda S, Trick L, Boileau I J Clin Invest. 2024; 134(20).

PMID: 39403927 PMC: 11473150. DOI: 10.1172/JCI172887.

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