American scientists from Northwestern University in Chicago have discovered that the human brain can synthesize cannabinoid molecules in response to stress. These elements activate the same receptors as psychoactive substances found in the cannabis plant. Article published in the scientific journal Cell Reports.
During an experiment on laboratory mice, it was revealed that under nervous stress, the amygdala in the brain secretes endogenous (body-created) cannabinoid molecules. They affect the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and emotions.
Study author Dr. According to Sachi Patel, disturbances in the brain’s endogenous cannabinoid signaling system may lead to greater susceptibility to the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When scientists removed cannabinoid receptors in rodents, the rodents became more passive and inactive in response to stress, lost motivation, and lost interest in sugar water. The latter outcome may be related to the anhedonia, or diminished pleasure, that people suffering from depression and PTSD often experience.
The researchers noted that their discovery could help create new drugs for stress-related mental disorders, based on their effects on the brain’s endocannabinoid system.