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Cited by 62Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchSchizophrenia research and treatment

Endocannabinoid signaling in social functioning: an RDoC perspective

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Karhson, D S, Hardan, A Y, Parker, K J·2016·Translational Psychiatry
DOI 10.1038/tp.2016.169PMC PMC5048207
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Abstract

Core deficits in social functioning are associated with various neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, yet biomarker identification and the development of effective pharmacological interventions has been limited. Recent data suggest the intriguing possibility that endogenous cannabinoids, a class of lipid neuromodulators generally implicated in the regulation of neurotransmitter release, may contribute to species-typical social functioning. Systematic study of the endogenous cannabinoid signaling could, therefore, yield novel approaches to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of atypical social functioning. This article provides a critical review of the major components of the endogenous cannabinoid system (for example, primary receptors and effectors—Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol) and the contributions of cannabinoid signaling to social functioning. Data are evaluated in the context of Research Domain Criteria constructs (for example, anxiety, chronic stress, reward learning, motivation, declarative and working memory, affiliation and attachment, and social communication) to enable interrogation of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in social functioning across diagnostic categories. The empirical evidence reviewed strongly supports the role for dysregulated cannabinoid signaling in the pathophysiology of social functioning deficits observed in brain disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. Moreover, these findings indicate that the endogenous cannabinoid system holds exceptional promise as a biological marker of, and potential treatment target for, neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social functioning.

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Authors
Karhson, D. S., Hardan, A. Y., & Parker, K. J.
Affiliations
Stanford Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Karhson, D S
ORCID
Venue
Translational Psychiatry
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2016-09-27
Volume
6
Issue
9
Pages
e905-e905
ISSN
2158-3188 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/tp.2016.169
PMC
PMC5048207
OpenAlex
W2526848862
Cited by
62
References
100
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5
FWCI
0.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Translational Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH019908)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Keywords
endocannabinoid system, social functioning, Research Domain Criteria, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, social dysfunction, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, chronic stress, reward learning, motivation, memory, social communication, biomarkers, treatment goals

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