Cannabis & Cannabinoids - Mode of Action Flashcards
How do cannabis & cannabinoids act?
By binding on to cannabinoid receptors
What is CB1?
A type of canabinoid receptor found in many regions in the brain.
Where is the other type of cannabinoid receptor found?
In the immune system.
What does CB1 stand for?
Cannabinoid receptor type 1
How can taking cannabis affect memory function?
Because there are many cannabinoid receptors in the hippocampus which has a major role in memory & learning.
How does cannabis in the nervous system affect the making of memories?
Cannabis binds to the cannabinoid receptors, blocking them, meaning there is less activity in the neurons in the hippocampus.
Therefore, cannabis gives less neuron activity.
What gives the ‘high’ when cannabis is taken?
The excess dopamine that is released in the reward system.
Why is it that cannabis blocks activity, yet there is excess dopamine in the reward system?
Because dopaminergic neurons don’t have cannabinoid receptors.
The dopaminergic neyrons are inhibited by GABAergic neurons, which have CB1 receptors.
Cannabis removes inhibition from GABAergic neurons.
So dopamine neurons can be activated & will release more dopamine.
Taking cannabis damages CB1 receptors.
What does this affect?
It affects blood flow & reduces oxygen to the brain.
This reduces the attention of the cannabis user and gives them memory loss.
