Gerry Jager

Position

Post-doc

Grants

TI-Pharma (projectnr T5-107)

Duration project

September 2007-september 2011

Project

Pharmacological fMRI; studying the acute effects of THC on functional brain systems in humans.
1. the endocannabinoid receptor system in healthy volunteers (project 1)
2. the endocannabinoid receptor system in psychiatric patients (project 2)

Content

Aim of these projects is to investigate the role of the brain’s own cannabinoid receptorsystem in the regulation of cognition. We challenge the cannabinoid receptor system by administration of THC (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis and a stimulant of the cannabinoid receptor) via an inhaler, whilst the subject is in the MRI-scanner and performs cognitive tasks (functional MRI). We measure the effects of THC on task performance and related brain activation, and compare these outcomes between the THC session and a 2nd session when subjects get a placebo (non-active substance). We study the alterations in task performance and related brain activity patterns induced by THC administration, compared to placebo.

The first project will be done in healthy volunteers. Afterwards, we will extend our research to several groups of psychiatric patients. The reason for this is that many psychiatric diseases involve cognitive impairments, apart from the other core symptoms. Available pharmalogical treatment does not or insufficiently improve cognitive dysfunction in these patients. Pharmaceutical industries are interested in the role of the body’s own cannabinoid receptor system because this may be a promising target for research and development of new types of medicines. However, prior to research and development of new medicines we need to increase our knowledge on the role of the body’s own cannabinoid receptor system in the regulation of cognitive brain functioning, both in healthy people and in patients. The current project will add an important contribution to extending our knowledge.

Collaboration within UMC Utrecht

Louk Vanderschuren, TI-Pharma partner

Collaboration outside UMC Utrecht

TI-Pharma partners VU Amsterdam, UMCG, AMC, CHDR (Center for Human Drug Reserach) Leiden, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, more: TI-pharma-website.

Publications

De Win MML, Jager G, Booij J, Reneman L, Schilt T, Lavini C, Olabarriaga SD, Ramsey NF, Den Heeten GJ, Van den Brink W (2008) Neurotoxic effects of ecstasy on the thalamus. Br J Psychiatry 193(4), pp 289-296.
De Win MML, Jager G, Booij J, Reneman L, Schilt T, Lavini C, Olabarriaga SD, Den Heeten GJ, Van den Brink W (2008) Sustained effects of ecstasy on the human brain: a prospective neuroimaging study in novel users. Brain 131, pp 2936-2945.
Jager G, Ramsey NF (2008). Cognitive and neurodevelopmental effects of cannabis use in adolescence: an overview of animal and human data. Current Drug Abuse Reviews 1, pp 114-123.
Jager G, De Win MML, Van Der Tweel I, Schilt T, Kahn RS, Van Den Brink W, Van Ree JM, Ramsey NF (2008) Assessment of Cognitive Brain Function in Ecstasy Users and Contributions of Other Drugs of Abuse: Results from an fMRI Study. Neuropsychopharmacology 33(2), pp 247-258.
Van Raalten TR, Ramsey NF, Jansma JM, Jager G, Kahn RS (2008) Automatization and working memory capacity in schizophrenia. Schizophr. Res. 100(1-3), pp 161-71.
Schilt T, De Win MML, Jager G, Koeter MW, Ramsey NF, Schmand B, Van Den Brink W (2008) Specific effects of ecstasy and other illicit drugs on cognition in poly-substance users. Psychol. Med. 38(9), pp 1309-1317.
Schilt T, De Win MML, Koeter M, Jager G, Korf DJ, Van Den Brink W, Schmand B (2007) Cognition in novice ecstasy users with minimal exposure to other drugs: a prospective cohort study. Arch. Gen. Psych. 64(6), pp 728-736.
Jager G, De Win MML, Vervaeke HKE, Schilt T, Kahn RS, Van Den Brink W, Van Ree JM, Ramsey NF (2007) Incidental use of ecstasy: no evidence for harmful effects on cognitive brain function in a prospective fMRI study. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 193(3), pp 403-414.
Jager G, Van Hell HH, De Win MML, Kahn RS, Van Den Brink W, Van Ree JM, Ramsey NF (2007) Effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampal activity during an associative memory task. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 17(4), pp 289-297.
De Win MML, Reneman L, Jager G, Vlieger EJP, Olabarriaga SD, Lavini C, Bisschops I, Majoie CBLM, Booij J, Van Den Brink W, Den Heeten GJ (2006) A prospective cohort study on non-acute effects of low dose ecstasy use on the brain in new ecstasy users. Neuropsychopharmacology 32(2), pp 458-470.
Jager G, Kahn RS, Van Den Brink W, Van Ree JM, Ramsey NF (2006) Long-term effects of frequent cannabis use on working memory and attention: an fMRI study. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 185(3), pp 358-368.
De Win MML, Schilt T, Reneman L, Vervaeke HKE, Jager G, Dijkink S, Booij J, Van Den Brink W (2006) Ecstasy use and self-reported depression, impulsivity, and sensation seeking: a prospective cohort study. J. of Psychopharmacology 20(2), pp 226-235.
De Win MML, Jager G, Vervaeke HKE, Schilt T, Reneman L, Booij J, Verhulst FC, Den Heeten GJ, Ramsey NF, Korf DJ, Van Den Brink W (2005) The Netherlands XTC Toxicity (NeXT) study: objectives and methods of a study investigating causality, course, and clinical relevance. Int.J. Methods Psychiatr.Res 14 (4), pp167-185.
Ramsey NF, Jansma JM, Jager G, Van Raalten TR and Kahn RS (2004) Neurophysiological factors in human information processing capacity. Brain 127, pp 517-525.
Postma A, Jager G, Van Honk J, Kessels RCP, Koppeschaar HPF (2004) Selective sex differences in various forms of spatial memory. Brain and Cognition 54(1), pp 24-34.
Van Honk J, Kessels RCP, Jager G, Koppeschaar HPF, Postma A (2003) Attentionally modulated effects of cortisol and mood on memory for emotional faces in healthy young males. Psychoneuroendocrinology 28(7), pp 941-948.
Jager G, Postma A (2003) On the hemispheric specialization for categorical and coordinate spatial relations: a review of the current evidence. Neuropsychologia 41(3), pp 504-515.