THE EFFECTS OF CANNABIDIOL (CBD) EXPECTANCY ON SUBJECTIVE STRESS, ANXIETY, AND RELATED NEURAL RESPONSES IN HEALTHY ADULTS

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) may be a promising treatment candidate for psychiatric disorders. Our group has previously shown that CBD expectancy alone impacts subjective, physiological, and endocrine markers of stress and anxiety. This study explored how CBD expectancy may alter subjective state and functional connectivity (FC) within and between the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and central executive network (CEN). Healthy adults were randomly assigned to receive accurate or misleading instructions regarding the CBD content of a CBD-free oil. They underwent MRI scanning with resting-state FC at baseline and following a stress task. Increased FC was observed within and between the DMN and CEN in the Told CBD condition, whereas the SN showed increased FC with both the CEN and DMN in the Told CBD-free condition. Reduced stress and anxiety were observed in the Told CBD condition. Results suggest CBD expectancy might impact neural responses associated with its therapeutic properties.