tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post116484459765468022..comments2024-03-22T00:30:09.536-07:00Comments on The Neurocritic: THC and MemoryThe Neurocritichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08010555869208208621noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-37171974410713193652009-02-20T04:01:00.000-08:002009-02-20T04:01:00.000-08:00ei neurocritic. nice topics there. especially abpb...ei neurocritic. nice topics there. especially abpbiut prosopagmnasia. nice faceless pic of Peanut Syndicate character.Gomez09https://www.blogger.com/profile/06273912914667890744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1166571632930715042006-12-19T15:40:00.000-08:002006-12-19T15:40:00.000-08:00You might want to look at this article:Nahas GG. (...You might want to look at this article:<BR/><BR/>Nahas GG. (2001). <A HREF="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/79503470/ABSTRACT" REL="nofollow">The pharmacokinetics of THC in fat and brain: resulting functional responses to marihuana smoking.</A> Hum Psychopharmacol 16:247-255.<BR/><BR/>155 articles came up from a <A HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=PureSearch&db=pubmed&details_term=THC%5BAll%20Fields%5D%20AND%20%28%22pharmacokinetics%22%5BSubheading%5D%20OR%20%22absorption%22%5BMeSH%20Terms%5D%20OR%20absorption%5BText%20Word%5D%29" REL="nofollow">PubMed search of THC absorption</A>.<BR/><BR/>Oh, this one looks interesting:<BR/><BR/>Ashton CH, Moore PB, Gallagher P, Young AH. (2005). <A HREF="http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/3/293" REL="nofollow">Cannabinoids in bipolar affective disorder: a review and discussion of their therapeutic potential.</A> J Psychopharmacol. 19:293-300. Review.The Neurocritichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08010555869208208621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1166503383029379452006-12-18T20:43:00.000-08:002006-12-18T20:43:00.000-08:00We all know that ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol is lipid ...We all know that ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol is lipid soluble. We also know that smoking cannabis and absorbing it through the alveoli rout is dependent on serum lipid THC saturation. Do any of these studies accurately quantify the amount of THC which could actually be crossing the blood brain barrier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1166503329941234452006-12-18T20:42:00.000-08:002006-12-18T20:42:00.000-08:00We all know that ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol is lipid ...We all know that ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol is lipid soluble. We also know that smoking cannabis and absorbing it through the alveoli rout is dependent on serum lipid THC saturation. Do any of these studies accurately quantify the amount of THC which could actually be crossing the blood brain barrier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1165773669145912592006-12-10T10:01:00.000-08:002006-12-10T10:01:00.000-08:00It would be really interesting to gather epidemiol...It would be really interesting to gather epidemiological data from a large population of elderly people who've been long-term light-to-moderate users, and compare to nonusers, to determine whether there is a lower incidence of Alzheimer's in cannabis users.<BR/><BR/>The oldest of the 60's era hippies are getting up there in age...The Neurocritichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08010555869208208621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1165620918089687602006-12-08T15:35:00.000-08:002006-12-08T15:35:00.000-08:00The longitudinal study (2nd) which looked at light...The longitudinal study (2nd) which looked at light users also did not find any significant differences in moderate users, so the hedged statement you emphasized should be evaluated in that context. Also, I "love" it that when something physiological is found different in users, then the automatic implication is that the change is detrimental, sorta like the biological version of the anthropic principle. Half-seriously, for all we know, those changes may be beneficial but the combined clinical findings are clear.daksyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05473145703382086749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1165541343286660142006-12-07T17:29:00.000-08:002006-12-07T17:29:00.000-08:00Yes, it's also true of "frequent but relatively mo...Yes, it's also true of "frequent but relatively moderate cannabis users" (<A HREF="http://drugwarrant.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=389" REL="nofollow">Jager et al., 2006</A>).<BR/><BR/><I>CONCLUSION: No evidence was found for long-term deficits in working memory and selective attention in frequent cannabis users after 1 week of abstinence. <B>Nonetheless, frequent cannabis use may affect brain function</B>, as indicated by altered neurophysiological dynamics in the left superior parietal cortex during working memory processing.</I><BR/><BR/>I'm certainly not a prohibitionist, just pointing out that some brain changes were observed (albeit without a concomitant decline in memory and attention).The Neurocritichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08010555869208208621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1165530832023828362006-12-07T14:33:00.000-08:002006-12-07T14:33:00.000-08:00Also among non-heavy current users.Also among non-heavy current users.daksyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05473145703382086749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1165528889651149322006-12-07T14:01:00.000-08:002006-12-07T14:01:00.000-08:00Daksya, thanks for the links to articles that demo...Daksya, thanks for the links to articles that demonstrate the lack of long-term cognitive consequences in abstinent former users. It's good to draw attention to that point.The Neurocritichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08010555869208208621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1165526538041946512006-12-07T13:22:00.000-08:002006-12-07T13:22:00.000-08:00It's no surprise that acute intoxication impairs w...It's no surprise that acute intoxication impairs working memory but various studies show no residual effects in a)non-heavy current users and b)former users (including heavy ones) who have been abstinent on the order of months.<BR/><BR/>See:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://drugwarrant.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=389" REL="nofollow">Long-term effects of frequent cannabis use on working memory and attention: an fMRI study.</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://drugwarrant.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=390" REL="nofollow">Neurocognitive consequences of marihuana--a comparison with pre-drug performance.</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://drugwarrant.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=391" REL="nofollow">Neuropsychological consequences of regular marijuana use: a twin study.</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://drugwarrant.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=394" REL="nofollow">Neuropsychological performance in long-term cannabis users.</A>daksyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05473145703382086749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1165100477424950162006-12-02T15:01:00.000-08:002006-12-02T15:01:00.000-08:00Thanks for your comments.I have to admit that I do...Thanks for your comments.<BR/><BR/>I have to admit that I don't know much about cannabinoid receptors. I just learned that THC is a <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_agonist" REL="nofollow">partial agonist</A> at <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receptors%2C_cannabinoid" REL="nofollow">CB1 receptors</A>, that there are CB1 receptors in in astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes (Ramirez et al. 2005), and that the neuroprotective effects of cannabinoid receptor agonists are presynaptic and involve inhibiting the release of glutamate (Shen & Thayer, 1998)The Neurocritichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08010555869208208621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21605329.post-1165095513167144972006-12-02T13:38:00.000-08:002006-12-02T13:38:00.000-08:00I recently saw the Nature Neuroscience article abo...I recently saw the Nature Neuroscience article about THC and spike timing coordination - it's interesting. The whole collection of marijuana research is riddled with contradictory findings, which makes some sense if you know that cannabinoids act presynaptically as well as postsynaptically - meaning they can have opposing effects on the same function. <BR/><BR/>Marijuana has been shown to be effective in pain treatment, and even preventing conditioned anticipatory nausea/vomitting in chemotherapy patients - so it clearly warrants more research, but the obstacles that stand in the way often make it difficult. <BR/><BR/>Personally as a memory researcher, I find the effects of THC confusing - how is it that something can be harmful in the short-term, but beneficial in the long term? Is there some sort of experience related tolerance to the short term effects that needs to be acheived before any long term benefits can express themselves? Maybe, maybe not!Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com