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

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a randomized, parallel-group study designed to explore the differences between cannabis intoxication, alcohol intoxication and co-intoxication involving both alcohol and cannabis, utilizing electroencephalography (EEG) as well as more traditional intoxication measures such as breath alcohol concentration and balance metrics. If eligible for the study, participants will be randomized to complete one study session in our mobile laboratory, during which they will use either alcohol, cannabis (which will be self-administered, ad libitum) or both alcohol and cannabis.

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 data supports the effectiveness of EEG as a treatment for understanding the effects of alcohol and cannabis on brain activity?

Research shows that EEG can detect changes in brain wave patterns after alcohol consumption, such as increased power in certain frequency bands and changes in brain activity during mental tasks. Similarly, EEG can identify specific brain wave changes during cannabis intoxication, making it a useful tool for assessing the effects of these substances on the brain. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is EEG safe for studying the effects of alcohol and cannabis on the brain?

EEG is a safe, non-invasive method used to study brain activity and has been used in research to assess the effects of substances like alcohol and cannabis on brain function. ^{2 4 5 6 7}

How does EEG differ from other treatments for studying alcohol and cannabis effects on the brain?

EEG (Electroencephalography) is unique because it non-invasively measures brain wave activity in real-time, providing detailed insights into how alcohol and cannabis affect brain function, unlike other methods that may not capture these rapid changes. ^{2 5 6 8 9}

Research Team

Hollis C. Karoly, PhD

Principal Investigator

Colorado State University

Patricia Davies, PhD

Principal Investigator

Colorado State University

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EEG spectral characteristics following ethanol administration in young men. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EEG topography of acute ethanol effects in resting and activated normals. [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EEG alpha activity increases during transient episodes of ethanol-induced euphoria. [2019]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ethanol-induced alterations in electroencephalographic activity in adult males. [2015]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alterations in Electroencephalography Theta as Candidate Biomarkers of Acute Cannabis Intoxication. [2021]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Correlation of EEG biomarkers of cannabis with measured driving impairment. [2023]

7. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of ethanol on EEG activity in males at risk for alcoholism. [2019]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Occipital neural dynamics in cannabis and alcohol use: independent effects of addiction. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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