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endocannabinoids

This shows a young person drinking at the side of a road

·January 19, 2023·4 min read

Heavy Drinking in Young Adults Tied to Endocannabinoid Pathway

Brain levels of FAAH, an enzyme that degrades a neurotransmitter that activates the cannabinoid 1 receptor, may contribute to the maintenance of excessive drinking and susceptibility to alcohol use disorder.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 14, 2022·4 min read

Gut Microbes Can Boost the Motivation to Exercise

Researchers have identified two gut bacterial species that produce fatty acid amides, stimulating CB1 endocannabinoid receptors in the gut which causes an increase in dopamine in the ventral striatum during exercise.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 17, 2021·3 min read

Exercise Increases the Body’s Own ‘Cannabis’ Which Reduces Chronic Inflammation

For people with arthritis, exercise reduces pain and lowers levels of inflammatory cytokines. Exercise also increases the production of natural endocannabinoids. Researchers found the way exercise promotes these changes was due to altered gut microbes.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 4, 2021·5 min read

How Endocannabinoids Keep the Brain in Balance

Endocannabinoids actively balance neural connections, allowing cells to either activate or inhibit each other. The findings shed light on the role endocannabinoids play in learning and some psychiatric disorders.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 4, 2021·6 min read

Marijuana-Like Brain Substance Calms Seizures but Increases After-Effects

The release of 2-AG, a natural endocannabinoid that is suggested to be the brain's equivalent to THC, dampens down seizure activity but increases post-seizure oxygen deprivation in the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·December 17, 2020·2 min read

New Mechanism to Balance Emotional Behavior

GABA accelerates the breakdown of endocannabinoids in the brain. Endocannabinoids are critical for emotional processing. The findings could lead to the development of new treatments for emotional behavioral disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·December 11, 2020·4 min read

Gut Microbiota Plays a Role in Brain Function and Mood Regulation

An imbalance in gut bacteria can cause the reduction of some metabolites, resulting in depression-like symptoms. The findings contribute to the growing body of evidence for the role the microbiome plays in brain function and mental health.

This shows the chemical structure of anandamine

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 12, 2020·4 min read

Body’s own marijuana helps us forget traumatic memories

Anandamide, an endogenous compound produced in the body, plays a role in reversing memories of traumatic events. The findings could lead to new treatments for PTSD.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·February 12, 2020·4 min read

Study links human gene variant to THC reward in adolescent females

A variant of the FAAH gene increases vulnerability to THC in females and has a larger-scale impact on brain regions responsible for reward processing.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 18, 2019·4 min read

High-fat maternal diet can cause life-long changes in the fetal brain

When pregnant women consume diets high in polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids, an excess of endocannabinoids is produced which overloads the fetus, and impairs healthy brain development.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 29, 2019·5 min read

New medication may be able to improve effects of psychological treatment for PTSD

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors, a form of medication that boosts endocannabinoids, may be helpful in the treatment of PTSD. FAAH inhibition can improve the recall of fear extinction memories. The drugs could also help treat stress and other psychological disorders.