Alcohol and Cannabis Effects on Brain Activity

Overseen By Hollis C. Karoly, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Colorado State University

Must not be taking: Psychotropic drugs

Disqualifiers: Tobacco use, AUD, SUD, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 day

99 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how alcohol and cannabis affect brain activity, both separately and together. Researchers will use electroencephalography (EEG) to study brain waves while participants are under the influence. Participants will be divided into three groups: one using cannabis, another consuming alcohol, and the third using both. Ideal candidates are heavy drinkers and regular cannabis users who have combined both substances at least once a month recently. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on substance use and brain activity.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it excludes those using psychotropic medications (except anti-depressants).

What prior data suggests that electroencephalography is safe for measuring brain activity during intoxication?

Research shows that cannabis use can affect memory, attention, and information processing speed. Some studies suggest it might alter brain activity, leading to problems with thinking and focus.

For alcohol, studies indicate it can change brain activity patterns. Drinking alcohol may reduce brain function and cause memory issues, altering brain performance during tasks.

When alcohol and cannabis are used together, effects can vary. Some studies find no major changes, while others suggest the combination might worsen brain function and thinking.

Overall, both cannabis and alcohol can impact the brain. When used together, their effects might intensify. Consider these findings when deciding about joining the study. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how alcohol and cannabis independently and together affect brain activity, which is a unique approach compared to traditional studies that focus solely on the effects of one substance. By using electroencephalography (EEG), this trial can provide real-time insights into brain function while participants are under the influence of these substances. Unlike traditional cognitive or behavioral assessments, EEG offers a direct look at how brain activity changes, potentially uncovering novel interactions between alcohol and cannabis that could inform safer usage guidelines or new therapeutic approaches.

What evidence suggests that electroencephalography is effective for studying intoxication effects?

This trial will compare the effects of cannabis, alcohol, and their combination on brain activity. Research has shown that cannabis can alter brain function, leading to memory and focus issues. Participants in the Cannabis Group will self-administer their own cannabis product. Even small amounts of alcohol can change brain wave patterns, affecting thinking and behavior. Researchers will administer a dose of alcohol to participants in the Alcohol Group. Studies suggest that using alcohol and cannabis together has a stronger effect on the brain, causing more difficulty with thinking tasks and altering brain activity. Participants in the Alcohol + Cannabis Group will self-administer cannabis and then receive a dose of alcohol. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Hollis C. Karoly, PhD

Principal Investigator

Colorado State University

Patricia Davies, PhD

Principal Investigator

Colorado State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who use alcohol, cannabis, or both and are interested in how these substances affect brain activity. Participants will be placed into groups to either consume alcohol, cannabis, or both in a controlled setting.

Inclusion Criteria

Regular users of legal-market flower cannabis (at least 2x/week in past 3 months)

English speakers

I am between 21 and 50 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Daily tobacco users

Report illicit drug use in past 60-days or fail drug screen on the day of the study appointment

Diagnosed with or seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) or other substance use disorder (SUD)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomized to complete one study session in a mobile laboratory, using either alcohol, cannabis, or both, with EEG and other measures taken pre- and post-use

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive function and physiological measures immediately pre-use and at multiple intervals post-use

4 hours

Multiple assessments during the session

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Electroencephalography

Trial Overview

The study aims to distinguish the effects of alcohol intoxication, cannabis intoxication, and co-intoxication on brain activity using EEG. It's a randomized trial where participants' balance and breath alcohol levels are also measured.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cannabis Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will self-administer their own flower cannabis product (that they purchased for use in the study from a legal-market dispensary) ad libitum inside their homes. Researchers will not handle the product or instruct participants on how much to use during the session.

Group II: Alcohol Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will be administered a dose of alcohol by researchers in our mobile lab. The dose is designed (based on participant sex and body weight) to bring blood alcohol concentration to .06 g/dL.

Group III: Alcohol + Cannabis Group Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will first self-administer their own flower cannabis product (that they purchased for use in the study from a legal-market dispensary) ad libitum inside their homes. Researchers will not handle the product or instruct participants on how much to use during the session. They will then return to the mobile lab which will be parked outside their residence and will be administered a dose of alcohol by researchers. The dose is designed (based on participant sex and body weight) to bring blood alcohol concentration to .06 g/dL.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Colorado State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

138

Recruited

38,200+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Ethanol consumption (1.0 g/kg) in healthy young males led to increased power in theta and beta EEG bands, indicating altered brain activity, particularly in the left hemisphere, compared to a placebo group.

The study found that ethanol not only reduced the brain's ability to differentiate activity at rest but also impaired cognitive activation during a mental task, suggesting potential negative effects on cognitive function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EEG topography of acute ethanol effects in resting and activated normals. Stenberg, G., Sano, M., Rosén, I., et al.[2019]

In a study of 45 adults with current use of both cannabis and alcohol, those with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) showed a significantly reduced occipital alpha response, indicating altered neural oscillatory activity associated with alcohol addiction.

The decrease in alpha activity was linked to the severity of AUD symptoms, suggesting that alpha oscillatory activity may be crucial in understanding the neural networks impacted by alcohol addiction, independent of cannabis use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Occipital neural dynamics in cannabis and alcohol use: independent effects of addiction. Lew, BJ., Salimian, A., Wilson, TW.[2022]

A study involving 12 healthy young cannabis users demonstrated that EEG can effectively measure neurophysiological changes associated with cannabis intoxication, such as decreased theta band power and altered event-related potentials during cognitive tasks.

These EEG biomarkers could help differentiate between intoxicated and non-intoxicated individuals, providing a potential method for assessing cannabis impairment in both laboratory and real-world situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alterations in Electroencephalography Theta as Candidate Biomarkers of Acute Cannabis Intoxication. Richard, CD., Poole, JR., McConnell, M., et al.[2021]

Ethanol consumption significantly altered slow alpha (SA) EEG activity in both high-risk and low-risk males, indicating that alcohol affects brain wave patterns regardless of risk for alcoholism.

Differences in SA activity between high-risk and low-risk individuals were observed at specific electrode sites, suggesting that those at higher risk may respond differently to ethanol's effects on brain activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of ethanol on EEG activity in males at risk for alcoholism. Cohen, HL., Porjesz, B., Begleiter, H.[2019]

The study found a significant link between acute cannabis intoxication and impaired driving performance, as indicated by increased variability in lane position, which was associated with specific EEG power changes in the slow theta band (3-5 Hz).

EEG biomarkers, when used alongside neurocognitive tests, show promise for accurately assessing cannabis intoxication levels and their impact on driving ability, suggesting a potential tool for enhancing road safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Correlation of EEG biomarkers of cannabis with measured driving impairment. Brown, T., McConnell, M., Rupp, G., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 18 men, acute ethanol administration led to increased theta EEG activity that correlated with rising plasma ethanol levels, indicating a direct relationship between alcohol consumption and brain electrical activity changes.

The study found that increased alpha EEG activity was associated with feelings of intense pleasure or euphoria, suggesting that specific brain activity patterns are linked to the behavioral effects of ethanol.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EEG alpha activity increases during transient episodes of ethanol-induced euphoria. Lukas, SE., Mendelson, JH., Benedikt, RA., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 21 healthy adult males, both low-dose and high-dose ethanol significantly increased slow alpha EEG activity in frontal and central brain regions, indicating that ethanol affects brain wave patterns.

The research utilized a randomized, controlled design with precise measurements of blood-alcohol levels and EEG activity, highlighting the specific impact of ethanol on different cortical areas and frequency bands.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ethanol-induced alterations in electroencephalographic activity in adult males. Cohen, HL., Porjesz, B., Begleiter, H.[2015]

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) reveals that alcohol increases alpha rhythm power and decreases beta activity in the brain, showing a different response compared to electroencephalography (EEG), which did not detect these changes.

Alcohol affects cognitive processing by reducing specific brain wave amplitudes in both MEG and EEG, indicating that different brain areas are involved in how alcohol influences attention and cortical excitability.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MEG and TMS combined with EEG for mapping alcohol effects. Kähkönen, S.[2013]

In a study of 24 young males, low doses of ethanol (0.75 mg/kg) significantly increased power in slower EEG frequency bands (4-7 Hz and 7.5-9 Hz) and reduced peak frequency in theta, fast alpha, and beta ranges, indicating changes in brain activity after alcohol consumption.

The subjective effects of ethanol varied based on individual baseline EEG patterns, with men showing higher fast alpha activity reporting less intoxication, suggesting that pre-existing brain activity may influence how alcohol affects perception and experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EEG spectral characteristics following ethanol administration in young men. Ehlers, CL., Wall, TL., Schuckit, MA.[2019]

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Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance performed on normalized relative area values revealed that ethanol had significant effects on. EEG activity ...

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These results suggest that low doses of ethanol can produce fairly predictable changes in the frequency and content of theta and slow frequency alpha waves.

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This paper presents an analysis of the severity of alcohol use disorder (AUD) based on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and alcohol drinking experiments.

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This article focuses on MRI, DTI, and MRS findings in neurological disorders that commonly co-occur with alcoholism.

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The abnormal alcohol consumption could cause toxicity and could alter the human brain's structure and function, termed as alcohol used disorder (AUD).