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cannabis

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·August 10, 2020·4 min read

Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Linked to a Greater Risk of Autism

Women who use cannabis during pregnancy are at increased risk of their child being diagnosed with autism.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 15, 2020·5 min read

Girls More Negatively Affected By Cannabis Than Boys

High school aged girls who use marijuana experience a greater impact on their working memory and academic success than their male peers.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 8, 2020·4 min read

Astrocytes Shed Light on the Link Between Cannabis Use and Sociability

Exposing mice to THC, researchers noted persistent activation of mitochondrial cannabinoid receptors located within astrocytes resulted in a cascade of molecular processing that led to dysfunctional glucose metabolism. The ability of astrocytes to transform glucose into "food" for neurons was reduced. The reduction resulted in a compromise in neural function, with a harmful impact on behavior. Specifically, social interactions were reduced for 24 hours post cannabis exposure.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 3, 2020·3 min read

Brain Connectivity in Cannabis Users

Examining the brains of frequent cannabis users, researchers have identified a pattern of connectivity related to craving the substance. The findings add weight to the idea that brain regions do not work in isolation, but via the connectivity of multiple networks that signal to each other depending on state and need. Brain connectivity during cannabis cravings is not static but has fluctuations in connection patterns between the central executive network and nucleus accumbens.

Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 26, 2020·4 min read

Alternative medicine is widespread among people with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis patients are nine times more likely to discuss the use of alternative medicines, including cannabis, with their neurologists as treatment options than they were in 2001. 81% of MS patients report the use of dietary supplements to help with disease management, and 39% report participating in mindfulness and other mind-body therapies. 30% of patients reported using marijuana to help treat their symptoms.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 10, 2020·5 min read

Marijuana concentrates spike THC levels but don’t boost impairment

High-potency marijuana boosts the blood level of THC more than 50% more than smoking lower-potency cannabis, but it doesn't necessarily make you higher or impair cognition more, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 9, 2020·3 min read

Cannabis temporarily relieves PTSD symptoms

Cannabis reduces the severity of symptoms by more than half in the short-term for people suffering from PTSD. Using cannabis reduces recurring thoughts of a traumatic event by 62%, flashbacks by 51%, irritability by 67%, and anxiety by 57% for those with PTSD. However, the reduction of symptoms is not permanent.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Pain

·May 20, 2020·4 min read

Legal Cannabis hemp oil effectively treats chronic neuropathic pain

Hemp oil reduced mechanical pain sensitivity 10-fold within seven hours in mice with chronic postoperative neuropathic pain.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 18, 2020·3 min read

Females exhibit more intense subjective cannabis cravings than males

Researchers also found preliminary evidence that ovarian hormones may modulate the differential response in women and may be related to different levels of estrogen.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 14, 2020·4 min read

Minimum legal age for cannabis use should be 19

Researchers say the optimal age for legalized cannabis use is 19. The study found those who started smoking recreational marijuana between ages 19 and 20 were less likely to smoke cigarettes than those who started using the drug at an earlier age. General health was significantly better in those who started using cannabis at age 18 than those who started using marijuana earlier.