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Doss MK, Weafer J, Gallo DA, de Wit H. Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol During Encoding Impairs Perceptual Details yet Spares Context Effects on Episodic Memory. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2020; 5:110-118. [PMID: 31668830 PMCID: PMC6954333 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the growing acceptance of cannabis use, it is crucial to understand the drug's effects on episodic memory accuracy and distortion. We investigated the impact of the administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, on a context-based memory illusion. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects design, healthy infrequent cannabis users (N = 24) memorized object pictures that were superimposed over scenes (e.g., gray cat on beach) after pretreatment with placebo or THC (15 mg oral). Two days later under sober conditions, memory for the object pictures was tested by asking participants to discriminate between previously seen objects or perceptually similar lures (e.g., different gray cat). Context reinstatement was manipulated by presenting objects on their original or different scenes (e.g., beach or forest). RESULTS THC impaired memory for perceptual details of objects compared with placebo, and the context illusion was obtained in each condition: context reinstatement increased high-confidence false recognition along with correct recognition of previously seen objects. Although THC did not interact with these context effects overall, post hoc analyses showed that THC magnified the context illusion when objects were semantically congruent with their encoding contexts but abolished the context illusion when objects were incongruent with their encoding contexts. CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with the hypothesis that THC impairs the encoding of specific object information more than item-context associations. As a result, THC may spare the distorting effects of context reinstatement on memory. In fact, THC may increase these distorting effects under conditions when objects are semantically congruent with context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj K Doss
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Jessica Weafer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - David A Gallo
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Harriet de Wit
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Ceccarini J, Casteels C, Ahmad R, Crabbé M, Van de Vliet L, Vanhaute H, Vandenbulcke M, Vandenberghe W, Van Laere K. Regional changes in the type 1 cannabinoid receptor are associated with cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2019; 46:2348-2357. [PMID: 31342135 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-019-04445-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The endocannabinoid system plays a regulatory role in a number of physiological functions, including motor control but also mood, emotion, and cognition. A number of preclinical studies in Parkinson's disease (PD) models demonstrated that modulating the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) may improve motor symptoms and components of cognitive processing. However, the relation between CB1R, cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms has not been investigated in PD patients so far. The aim of this study was to examine whether CB1R availability is associated with measures of cognitive and behavioral function in PD patients. METHODS Thirty-eight PD patients and ten age- and gender-matched controls underwent a [18F]MK-9470 PET scan to assess CB1R availability, as well as volumetric MR imaging. Neuropsychological symptoms were evaluated using an extensive cognitive and behavioral battery covering the five cognitive domains, depression, anxiety, apathy, and psychiatric complications, and were correlated to CB1R availability using vowel-wise regression analysis (P < 0.05, corrected for familywise error). RESULTS PD patients with poorer performance in episodic memory, executive functioning, speed and mental flexibility (range P 0.003-0.03) showed lower CB1R availability in predominantly the midcingulate cortex and middle to superior frontal gyrus (Tpeak-level > 4.0). Also, PD patients with more severe visuospatial dysfunction showed decreased CB1R availability in the precuneus, midcingulate, supplementary motor cortex, inferior orbitofrontal gyrus and thalamus (Tpeak-level = 5.5). These correlations were not related to cortical gray matter atrophy. No relationship was found between CB1R availability and mood or behavioral symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS Decreased CB1R availability in the prefrontal and midcingulate cortex in PD patients is strongly correlated with disturbances in executive functioning, episodic memory, and visuospatial functioning. Further investigation of regional CB1R expression in groups of PD patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia is warranted in order to further investigate the role of CB1R expression in different levels of cognitive impairment in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Ceccarini
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. .,Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Cindy Casteels
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rawaha Ahmad
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Melissa Crabbé
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Van de Vliet
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Heleen Vanhaute
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Old Age Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Vandenbulcke
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim Vandenberghe
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Van Laere
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Altamura C, Ventriglia M, Martini MG, Montesano D, Errante Y, Piscitelli F, Scrascia F, Quattrocchi C, Palazzo P, Seccia S, Vernieri F, Di Marzo V. Elevation of Plasma 2-Arachidonoylglycerol Levels in Alzheimer's Disease Patients as a Potential Protective Mechanism against Neurodegenerative Decline. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 46:497-506. [PMID: 25818503 DOI: 10.3233/jad-142349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the activation of the endocannabinoid system in AD in vivo and the possible intermediate role of atherosclerosis. METHODS We enrolled 41 patients with probable AD, and 30 age- and gender-matched controls. All subjects underwent: ultrasound examination of cerebral and neck vessels (including intima-media thickness and plaque stenosis evaluation); blood sampling to measure levels of endocannabinoid [anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)] and endogenous AEA analogues [N-palmitoyl-ethanolamide (PEA); N-oleoyl-ethanolamide]; neuropsychological evaluation and brain MRI (atrophy, white matter hyperintensity volume). RESULTS 2-AG levels were higher in AD patients compared to controls (Mann-Whitney test p = 0.021). In the AD group, 2-AG correlated to white matter hyperintensity volume (r = 0.415, p = 0.015) and was higher in patients with chronic heart ischemic disease (p = 0.023). In AD patients, 2-AG was also positively related to memory (r = 0.334, p = 0.05) and attention (r = 0.423, p = 0.018) performances. Constructional praxia test scores were lower in patients with higher levels of PEA (r =-0.389, p = 0.019). CONCLUSION AD patients present high plasma 2-AG levels, also in relation to heart ischemic disease and cerebral leukoaraiosis. This may be a protective mechanism hindering neurodegeneration, but it may also play an ambivalent role on cerebrovascular circulation. The increase in 2-AG and PEA levels observed with ongoing pathological processes may differently modulate cognitive performances.
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Ruhl T, Moesbauer K, Oellers N, von der Emde G. The endocannabinoid system and associative learning and memory in zebrafish. Behav Brain Res 2015; 290:61-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.04.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Nimczick M, Decker M. New Approaches in the Design and Development of Cannabinoid Receptor Ligands: Multifunctional and Bivalent Compounds. ChemMedChem 2015; 10:773-86. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201500041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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WIN55,212-2 impairs non-associative recognition and spatial memory in rats via CB1 receptor stimulation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2014; 124:58-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2014.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2014] [Revised: 04/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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O'Brien LD, Sticht MA, Mitchnick KA, Limebeer CL, Parker LA, Winters BD. CB1 receptor antagonism in the granular insular cortex or somatosensory area facilitates consolidation of object recognition memory. Neurosci Lett 2014; 578:192-6. [PMID: 25004406 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.06.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid agonists typically impair memory, whereas CB1 receptor antagonists enhance memory performance under specific conditions. The insular cortex has been implicated in object memory consolidation. Here we show that infusions of the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716 enhances long-term object recognition memory in rats in a dose-dependent manner (facilitation with 1.5, but not 0.75 or 3 μg/μL) when administered into the granular insular cortex; the SR141716 facilitation was seen with a memory delay of 72 h, but not when the delay was shorter (1 h), consistent with enhancement of memory consolidation. Moreover, a sub-group of rats with cannulas placed in the somatosensory area were also facilitated. These results highlight the robust potential of cannabinoid antagonists to facilitate object memory consolidation, as well as the capacity for insular and somatosensory cortices to contribute to object processing, perhaps through enhancement of tactile representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley D O'Brien
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Martin A Sticht
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Krista A Mitchnick
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Cheryl L Limebeer
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Linda A Parker
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Boyer D Winters
- Department of Psychology and Collaborative Neuroscience Program University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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Cagni P, Melo GC, de Jesus AG, Barros M. Cannabinoid type-1 receptor ligands, alone or in combination with cocaine, affect vigilance-related behaviors of marmoset monkeys. Brain Res 2014; 1550:27-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 01/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Abstract
The psychoactive constituent in cannabis, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), was isolated in the mid-1960s, but the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, and the major endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol) were identified only 20 to 25 years later. The cannabinoid system affects both central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral processes. In this review, we have tried to summarize research--with an emphasis on recent publications--on the actions of the endocannabinoid system on anxiety, depression, neurogenesis, reward, cognition, learning, and memory. The effects are at times biphasic--lower doses causing effects opposite to those seen at high doses. Recently, numerous endocannabinoid-like compounds have been identified in the brain. Only a few have been investigated for their CNS activity, and future investigations on their action may throw light on a wide spectrum of brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Mechoulam
- Institute for Drug Research, Hebrew University, Medical Faculty, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
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Zanettini C, Panlilio LV, Alicki M, Goldberg SR, Haller J, Yasar S. Effects of endocannabinoid system modulation on cognitive and emotional behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2011; 5:57. [PMID: 21949506 PMCID: PMC3171696 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2011.00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Accepted: 08/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis has long been known to produce cognitive and emotional effects. Research has shown that cannabinoid drugs produce these effects by driving the brain’s endogenous cannabinoid system and that this system plays a modulatory role in many cognitive and emotional processes. This review focuses on the effects of endocannabinoid system modulation in animal models of cognition (learning and memory) and emotion (anxiety and depression). We review studies in which natural or synthetic cannabinoid agonists were administered to directly stimulate cannabinoid receptors or, conversely, where cannabinoid antagonists were administered to inhibit the activity of cannabinoid receptors. In addition, studies are reviewed that involved genetic disruption of cannabinoid receptors or genetic or pharmacological manipulation of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Endocannabinoids affect the function of many neurotransmitter systems, some of which play opposing roles. The diversity of cannabinoid roles and the complexity of task-dependent activation of neuronal circuits may lead to the effects of endocannabinoid system modulation being strongly dependent on environmental conditions. Recent findings are reviewed that raise the possibility that endocannabinoid signaling may change the impact of environmental influences on emotional and cognitive behavior rather than selectively affecting any specific behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Zanettini
- Department of Health and Human Services, Preclinical Pharmacology Section, Behavioral Neurosciences Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
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The use of cognitive enhancers in animal models of fear extinction. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2011; 99:217-28. [PMID: 21256147 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2010] [Revised: 12/25/2010] [Accepted: 01/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In anxiety disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorders and phobias, classical conditioning pairs natural (unconditioned) fear-eliciting stimuli with contextual or discrete cues resulting in enduring fear responses to multiple stimuli. Extinction is an active learning process that results in a reduction of conditioned fear responses after conditioned stimuli are no longer paired with unconditioned stimuli. Fear extinction often produces incomplete effects and this highlights the relative permanence of bonds between conditioned stimuli and conditioned fear responses. The animal research literature is rich in its demonstration of cognitive enhancing agents that alter fear extinction. This review specifically examines the fear extinguishing effects of cognitive enhancers that act on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamatergic, cholinergic, adrenergic, dopaminergic, and cannabinoid signaling pathways. It also examines the effects of compounds that alter epigenetic and neurotrophic mechanisms in fear extinction. Of these cognitive enhancers, glutamatergic N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonists, such as D-cycloserine, have enhanced fear extinction in a context-, dose- and time-dependent manner. Agents that function as glutamatergic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor agonists, alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonists (such as yohimbine), neurotrophic factors (brain derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (valproate and sodium butyrate) also improve fear extinction in animals. However, some have anxiogenic effects and their contextual and temporal effects need to be more reliably demonstrated. Various cognitive enhancers produce changes in cortico-amygdala synaptic plasticity through multiple mechanisms and these neural changes enhance fear extinction. We need to better define the changes in neural plasticity produced by these agents in order to develop more effective compounds. In the clinical setting, such use of effective cognitive enhancers with cue exposure therapy, using compounds derived from animal model studies, provides great hope for the future treatment of anxiety disorders.
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