Brain-wide effects of cannabinoids, measured by functional ultrasound imaging, show strong correlation with CB1R activation and behavior in awake mice
The emerging therapeutic and recreational use of cannabinoids calls for a better understanding of their brain effects. Using functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging, we studied the dynamics of the alterations of brain activation and functional connectivity (FC) patterns, measured through the neurovascular coupling, in a 60 minutes period following cannabinoid treatment in awake and behaving C57/BL6J mice. We then correlated these changes with important behavioral and molecular readouts, specifically locomotion, analgesia and CB1 receptor (CB1R) activation, measured by CB1R phosphorylation.Results