Acute Marihuana (THC) Exposure Produces a “Transient” Topographic Quantitative EEG Profile Identical to the “Persistent” Profile Seen in Chronic Heavy Users

Abstract

In two published pilot studies and a controlled replication using screened normals, chronic marihuana (THC) use was associated with a unique topographic quantitative EEG profile, consisting of significant elevations of Absolute and Relative Power and Coherence of alpha activity over the bilateral frontal cortex as well as a significant decrease in alpha frequency. This report attempts to establish the causal influence of THC in the above findings by the transient production of this exact quantitative EEG profile in subjects who did not display it at the beginning. Using paced smoking of marihuana with high and low dose THC content and placebo marihuana in a counterbalanced design under double blind conditions, all four of the topographic features of chronic THC exposure were produced as transient effects by THC but not by placebo.