cannabisnews.com: Scientists Move in on Brain's Natural Marijuana Scientists Move in on Brain's Natural Marijuana Posted by FoM on March 30, 2001 at 18:41:44 PT By Jennifer O'Brien Source: UCSF Today Nearly a decade ago, researchers determined that the brain contains a molecule that mimics the active ingredient in marijuana, but its location and role in the brain were unclear. Now, UCSF researchers have discovered that the molecule acts, at least in part, in a region of the brain that plays a key role in learning and memory.The study, reported in the March 29 issue of Nature, suggests, the researchers say, that the molecule, known as a cannabinoid, plays a role in particular cognitive functions within a structure known as the hippocampus. Paradoxically, marijuana disrupts cognitive function and the likely explanation, the researchers say, is that marijuana disrupts the very cognitive system the cannabinoid normally supports.The circumstances under which cannabinoid might act are unknown, but one possibility is that it contributes to the formation of new memories, says the lead author of the study, Rachel I. Wilson, a graduate student in the laboratory of Roger A. Nicoll, PhD, UCSF professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology and physiology and a member of the Keck Center for Integrative Neuroscience at UCSF. Another possibility is that cannabinoid enables neurons to shift from one behavioral state to another. "We know that when the brain is carrying out different behaviors -- whether directing the body to a desired destination or sleeping -- it has different patterns of synchronous rhythms. Cannabinoid might enable neurons to shift from one behavioral state to another," she says.In either case, she says, the cannabinoid system would be supporting cognitive processes. While merely speculative at this point, the hypothesis is reasonable, says Wilson, as the cell receptor through which cannabinoid acts has been conserved through evolution, suggesting the cannabinoid molecule is beneficial to many species. "It seems to me than anything expressed so heavily and conserved throughout evolution must be good for you. Why would we express the receptor at high levels if it just made us stupid?"Marijuana, meanwhile, could be disrupting the system by acting in a nondiscriminatory manner, says Wilson. The researchers, conducting their study in rats, discovered that cannabinoid is the signaling molecule within a unique system of communication that is activated intermittently between two of the brain's most ubiquitous nerve cells -- neurons containing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, and neurons containing the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. The modulation of inhibitory and excitatory signals leads to the regulation of excitation and inhibition within clusters of neurons that is the basis for all action and thought. Normally, brain cells containing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA release their signal and it diffuses across a synapse and on to receptors on cells containing the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, thereby dampening excitatory behavior. This orderly flow of information from pre-synaptic to post-synaptic cell is the classical form of communication in the nervous system. Complete Title: Scientists Move in on Brain's Naturally Occurring MarijuanaSource: UCSF Today (CA)Author: Jennifer O'BrienPublished: Thursday, 29 March 2001Phone: (415) 476-9000Address: University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143Copyright: 2001 The Regents of the University of CaliforniaContact: today itsa.ucsf.eduWebsute: http://www.ucsf.edu/Related Article:UCSF Study Links Marijuana Ingredient To Memory http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9204.shtmlCannnabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by The GCW on March 31, 2001 at 20:40:45 PT: If Cannabis is the Kahuna of the plant kingdom... then it may be possable that as Gods creation it helps us focus on the long term memory of life and eternal matters. We are not to focus too much on the short term. The short term may be selfish, and more easily lead us to wicked evil. If I was not able to look past the short term I would be apt to act on my anger of the Governments inability to get past PAGE 1.The Government may be living in the short term and as posted, they may well heed the example of the cannabis long term. The glass is not half full, it is overflowing. 3:31:1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 31, 2001 at 13:31:04 PT Huh What's ya talking about? I forgot! LOL!STML loss is great when you and your spouse have been fighting since you forget about it! Why don't they think of these things too? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by MDG on March 31, 2001 at 13:09:42 PT Short-term memory effects during intoxication. Isn't that part of the fun? I mean, it's hilarious to be talking passionately about something of grave importance, only to stop mid-stream and say, "What the hell was I just talking about?" (usually followed by laughter).This is something the Anti-Pols will never appreciate because they think everything they say is of grave importance.Mike... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on March 31, 2001 at 07:17:20 PT Seize My Brain Great. Next time I get pulled over and the cop asks me if I'm in possession of any controlled substances, not only do I have to surrender my hemp underwear, now I'm going to have to surrender my brain. Then there will be only one job I'd be qualified to do. Luckily, G.W. has left the position open for me... [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Dan B on March 30, 2001 at 22:36:47 PT: "Disrupted Cognition" Interesting that this article presumes that "marijuana disrupts cognitive function." The only proven short-term cognitive effect of marijuana is a disruption of short term memory, but many users--notably Carl Sagan, and particularly artists and musicians--report an increase of creative thought when using marijuana. The word "disrupts" is intended to be perceived as negative, but in fact it may be that marijuana temporarily inhibits short term memory while increasing the brain's ability to process information already learned. Thus, memory is put on hold in order to increase the brain's capacity for other cognitive functions. Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts, by Lynn Zimmer, Ph.D. and John P. Morgan, M.D., states the following:In laboratory studies, subjects under the influence of marijuana have no trouble remembering things they have learned previously. However, they display diminished capacity to learn and recall new information. This diminishment only lasts for the duration of the intoxication. There is no convincing evidence that heavy long-term marijuana use permanently impairs memory or other cognitive functions. Because marijuana does not appear to cause any permanent adverse effects on cognitive ability, we need only consider the transitory effects. If my theory that marijuana supresses short term memory in order to accomodate or expand other types of cognition then we can reasonably define marijuana intoxication as a potentially useful cognitive tool for virtually any adult. Any adult?Yes, any adult--because just about everyone could use a little creativity aid to boost his or her quality of life. I believe that this is why I have heard so many times that prohibitionists aren't qualified to make marijuana policy because they have had no experience with it. We should require all policy makers to smoke some weed at least once during each legislative session. Maybe then we'd end up with a bit more creativity and a lot less hostility.So, any time someone tells you that marijuana is bad because of its "negative cognitive effects," remind them that the effects are transitory and potentially quite useful. And remind them that they cannot possibly know the bebefits of marijuana if they have not tried it for themselves.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 30, 2001 at 18:52:40 PT Three Related Links To Above Article Naturehttp://www.nature.com/nature/Keck Center for Integrative Neurosciencehttp://phy.ucsf.edu/keck/Full Press Release The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Corporation, the National Science Foundation Fellowship and a UC Regents Fellowshiphttp://www.ucsf.edu/pressrel/2001/03/032801.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: