What happens in the brain when cannabis generates anxiety?
Northwestern University researchers have identified specific neurons in the brain's central amygdala that trigger anxiety when exposed to cannabinoids under stress. The study, conducted on mice, provides a biological explanation for why cannabis can sometimes induce negative psychological effects.
Why it matters
This research offers a neurological basis for understanding adverse reactions to cannabis, which is increasingly relevant as legalization spreads.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Study authors Drs. Sachin Patel (left) and Farhana Yasmin looking at brain recordings from central amygdala neurons. Credit: Gr8y Productions For the first time, Northwestern scientists have identified a set of neurons that play a role in generating anxiety after exposure to cannabinoid drugs, especially under stressful conditions. Cannabinoids are a class of substances that includes THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
In the study, the scientists exposed mice to a threatening odor. Before being exposed to the scent, derived from fox urine, the mice received either a placebo or a synthetic cannabinoid drug.
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