Interactions Between Physical Activity and Cannabis Use in Adults
Condition: Cannabis Dependence
MeSH terms: Marijuana Abuse
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      In this study the investigators will explore the relationship between physical activity and
      cannabis use. The investigators will compare regional brain activation detected by imaging
      technique(fRMI) before and after exercise in cannabis users and compare results with results
      from controls. The investigators hypothesize that the regional brain activation in response
      to visual cues (pictures related to cannabis use and food) will be different in cannabis
      users than in controls and that exercise will significantly alter brain responses to the
      cues.
    

Detailed description: 
      It is unknown how the response of cannabis users might compare to those of non-users in
      response to similar dose of physical activity. We will therefore compare brain activation
      during craving to cannabis, a natural reward (food) and a neutral scene (nature images). The
      food cues will allow us to determine if effects of exercise on brain activation and craving
      generalize to two different reward conditions and the nature scenes provide a neutral, no
      rewarding control. In addition to the analysis of predetermined regions of interest,
      whole-brain exploratory analyses will also be conducted to examine for additional brain
      regions showing associations between various conditions of interest and regional brain
      activation.

      Specific Aims

      1. To explore methodological factors involved in finding the relationship between PA and
      cannabis use.

        1. to examine the effects of cannabis and food cues on brain activation and craving in
           cannabis users and nonusers

        2. to examine the effects of vigorous exercise on brain activation and craving in response
           to cannabis and food cues.

      Our working hypothesis is that the regional brain activation in response to drug cues will be
      different in cannabis users than in controls and that exercise will significantly alter brain
      responses to these cues in both groups. Our secondary hypothesis is that exercise will tend
      to normalize the abnormal brain activation observed in cannabis users.

      Our expectation is that exercise will alter cue-responding in terms of brain activation or
      craving. It is possible that exercise may be a useful treatment in cannabis dependence.
      Future studies may examine this specific relationship.

      There are no reports available exploring the relationship between physical activity and
      cannabis use.

      Current data suggest that there are convergent findings regarding the chronic and acute
      effects of cannabis on brain activity
    

Intervention name(s): Exercise
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Exercise performed on a treadmill for 20-30 minutes
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Diagnostic
Keywords: exercise; cannabis use; visual cues