cannabisnews.com: UCSF Study Links Marijuana Ingredient To Memory  





UCSF Study Links Marijuana Ingredient To Memory  
Posted by FoM on March 29, 2001 at 14:43:59 PT
By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News 
Source: San Jose Mercury News 
The body produces its own marijuana-like chemical that may play a role in the creation of memories, according to a new research findings by UC-San Francisco scientists. The study, reported in today's issue of the journal Nature, suggests that the molecule, known as a cannabinoid, may regulate the flow of messages along the pathway in the brain used to build a memory. 
Although researchers determined nearly a decade ago that the brain contains a molecule that mimics the active ingredient in marijuana, its location and role in the brain has remained a puzzle. The University of California-San Francisco study concludes that the molecule works within a part of the brain known as the hippocampus, a region associated with the learning process. And while researchers do not yet know the exact mechanism of action, they believe that the molecule may block the normal inhibition of messages sent by brain cells -- in other words, it tells the gates of neural pathways to stay open, not shut. Paradoxically, as any pot smoker knows, marijuana is hard on memory. That made cannabinoid even more interesting to the scientists. ``It seems to me that anything . . . conserved throughout evolution must be good for you,'' said Rachel Wilson, a graduate student in the laboratory of Roger Nicoll, professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology and physiology at UCSF. The likely explanation, according to the UCSF team, is that marijuana confuses and disrupts the same cognitive system that the naturally occurring molecule supports. Perhaps it incites changes in the strength or pattern of the messages, the scientists suggest. Normally, messages fly back and forth along pathways between neurons, many times a minute. One type of neuron triggers messages; the other shuts them down. Working together, they create a system where messages are routinely sent and discarded. But every so often, the cannabinoid molecule is released by the trigger cell, sending a signal that a message is important and deserves repeating. This may contribute to the creation of a new memory, according to the authors. It may also influence the complex cascade of biochemical reactions that convert short-term memories into permanent ones. Some scientists also think that cannabinoid disregulation -- when the body produces to much or too little of the molecule -- may be linked to mood disorders. The goal of future research is to learn how this natural system works, and whether it can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)Author: Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury NewsPublished: Thursday, March 29, 2001Address: 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190Fax: (408) 271-3792Copyright: 2001 San Jose Mercury NewsContact: letters sjmercury.comWebsite: http://www.sjmercury.com/Forum: http://forums.bayarea.com/webx/cgi-bin/WebXNature Science Journalhttp://www.nature.com/nature/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by Cody Kratzmeier on January 08, 2004 at 09:08:39 PT:
a call to scientific cannabis-users
Are there many more such scientists who have found that marijuana increases the depth of their understanding of complex conceptual material? I have found that when I read difficult material, marijuana lent me an insight into the underlying theories and processes that I could not approach at average uninfluenced mental states.
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Comment #2 posted by Sudaca on March 30, 2001 at 11:46:46 PT
Memory stereotype
Me too, I've been smoking for the last ten years pretty much consistently. In the early days yeah I got lost and forgot stuff regularly. However, I was coping with amnesia from falling off a cliff when I was 18 , and the short term memory loss was familiar. I was convinced I could manage around it . I consciously practiced remembering stuff from when I was stoned to when I was sober, I currently have good memory, and I've noticed I started getting better recall of childhood memories as well..this becomes fairly obvious to me when I get together with old school friends (most of which are non smokers) and I can usually bring up the details of situations from long ago much more accurately than them.Again, this is purely anecdotal, but since we're dealing with stereotypes I guess this is what we can offer. Our experiences that contradict those prejudiced views.on a final note, i think Dr. Lynn Zimmer was collecting this sort of anecdotes. I wonder if she still is.
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Comment #1 posted by Cuzn Buzz on March 30, 2001 at 06:52:06 PT:
WRONG-ISH
I too am aware of the typical picture of the stoner who can't remember anything.This portrayal of marijuana users is (in my experience) incorrect.When I was studying the science of Zerography (eons ago) I discovered my retention was enhanced by use of Marijuana.I am a long term user (38 years at present). I have no memory problems, not even the ones normaly associated with age (yes, I'm an old coot).Sure it's only an ancedotal account, but at least it's not just pure BS like the antis treat us to.
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