Cannabidiol and fronto-parietal EEG connectivity in autistic children
Abstract
Autistic children often show altered brain network connectivity, including circuitry implicated in social cognition. Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a potential therapy for autism, but its neural mechanisms remain under-researched. Here, we analyze resting-state data collected as part of a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, to explore whether 12 weeks of oral CBD oil could modulate functional connectivity in autistic children. Twenty-nine autistic children (5 to 12 years) completed two 12-week intervention periods (CBD and placebo, randomized) separated by an 8-week washout. Before and after each period, 5 min of eyes-open resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) were obtained from a subset of 18 participants (8 female). Functional connectivity was calculated across 16 electrode-pairs in the delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands. Beta-band connectivity between the right frontal and right inferior-parietal electrodes increased following CBD (P = 0.001, false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected P [pFDR] = 0.022), and alpha connectivity showed an increase that did not remain following FDR correction (P = 0.036, pFDR = 0.428). No significant differences were observed following placebo for any frequency band (pFDR > 0.69). This study provides preliminary evidence that 12 weeks of cannabidiol is associated with an increase in right fronto-parietal (F4–P8) functional connectivity in autistic children, most pronounced in the beta-band. Replication in larger samples is needed to confirm generalizability and clinical relevance.
Related
- Effects of Cannabidiol on Auditory Mismatch Negativity in Autistic Children
- Eyes-Open Fronto-Central Alpha Activity as an Electrophysiological Correlate of Working Memory in Children with Predominantly Inattentive ADHD.
- A Strength‑Based Neurodiversity‑Affirming Investigation of Digital Interventions for Autistic Children in China: Multi‑Perspective Thematic Analysis With Parents and Therapists
- A Critical Review of Caregiver Report Measures of Autistic Traits in Children (4 to 12 years): Considerations for Research and Clinical Practice
- The Impact of a Neurocollaborative Theraplay®-Informed Intervention on the Presentations of Developmental Trauma and Attachment Difficulties in a Sub-Group of Autistic Looked after Children: a Retrospective Service Evaluation
BibTeX
@article{parrella2026cannabidiol,
title = {{Cannabidiol and fronto-parietal EEG connectivity in autistic children}},
author = {Nina-Francesca Parrella and Aron T Hill and Peter G Enticott and Luke A Downey and Sarah Catchlove and Talitha C Ford},
journal = {Cerebral Cortex (New York, NY)},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhag188},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhag188},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cannabidiol and fronto-parietal EEG connectivity in autistic children
AU - Nina-Francesca Parrella
AU - Aron T Hill
AU - Peter G Enticott
AU - Luke A Downey
AU - Sarah Catchlove
AU - Talitha C Ford
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Cerebral Cortex (New York, NY)
DO - 10.1093/cercor/bhag188
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhag188
AB - Autistic children often show altered brain network connectivity, including circuitry implicated in social cognition. Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a potential therapy for autism, but its neural mechanisms remain under-researched. Here, we analyze resting-state data collected as part of a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, to explore whether 12 weeks of oral CBD oil could modulate functional connectivity in autistic children. Twenty-nine autistic children (5 to 12 years) completed two 12-week intervention periods (CBD and placebo, randomized) separated by an 8-week washout. Before and after each period, 5 min of eyes-open resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) were obtained from a subset of 18 participants (8 female). Functional connectivity was calculated across 16 electrode-pairs in the delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands. Beta-band connectivity between the right frontal and right inferior-parietal electrodes increased following CBD (P = 0.001, false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected P [pFDR] = 0.022), and alpha connectivity showed an increase that did not remain following FDR correction (P = 0.036, pFDR = 0.428). No significant differences were observed following placebo for any frequency band (pFDR > 0.69). This study provides preliminary evidence that 12 weeks of cannabidiol is associated with an increase in right fronto-parietal (F4–P8) functional connectivity in autistic children, most pronounced in the beta-band. Replication in larger samples is needed to confirm generalizability and clinical relevance.
SN - 1047-3211
SN - 1460-2199
ER -