AI Insight
Research conducted in mice reveals that cannabinoids can increase anxiety by deactivating inhibitory controls on specific neurons located in the brain's fear center, particularly under stressful conditions. When researchers experimentally deactivated these particular neurons, they observed a significant reduction in anxiety-related behaviors that were previously triggered by cannabinoid exposure.
Why it matters
This finding helps explain why cannabis can produce anxiety as a side effect in some users, particularly during stress. Understanding the specific neural mechanisms could potentially lead to the development of cannabinoid-based medications that avoid anxiety-inducing effects or interventions to counteract cannabis-related anxiety.
Understand the Science
Cannabinoids may intensify anxiety by removing a natural brake on specific neurons in the brain’s fear center, particularly during stressful situations. In mice, shutting down those neurons sharply reduced cannabinoid-related anxious behavior.
Source: What happens in the brain when cannabis makes you anxious?