cannabisnews.com: Why Marijuana Impairs Memory Why Marijuana Impairs Memory Posted by CN Staff on November 19, 2006 at 14:58:58 PT By Charles Q. Choi, Special To LiveScience Source: LiveScience.com USA -- Scientists may have just found out why marijuana impairs memory and why the brain's natural versions of the drug might help against epilepsy. The active ingredient of marijuana, THC, is known to impair memory and to bind to areas of the brain linked to memory, such as the hippocampus. Still, the exact mechanisms by which marijuana impairs memory remain unclear. Neuroscientists David Robbe and Gyorgy Buzsaki at Rutgers University and their colleagues recorded hippocampus activity in rats. Normally brain cells in this region often synchronize their electrical activity.When the researchers injected rats with THC or a related synthetic drug, they found the normally synchronized workings of the hippocampus became disrupted. While the cells did not change how often they fired nerve impulses, their timing became erratic.Imagine an orchestra where the musicians are deafened and perhaps blindfolded, Buzsaki said. "They could still play their own pieces, but without any feedback from the other instruments played by other musicians or the conductor, depending on the nature and the length of the music played, it could be just a bit worse or outright disastrous, even though every note has been played. What is missing is the temporal coordination," Buzsaki explained. This is similar to what the researchers think goes on "in the hippocampal circuits under the influence of marijuana."The neuroscientists put rats through a standard test of memory, where the animals had to learn to alternate which direction they went in a maze in order to get water. As rat hippocampal brain cell activity grew less synchronized under the influence of drugs, the rodents made more mistakes. This suggests synchronized brain cell activity is crucial for memory formation and hints that THC impairs memory by disrupting this synchronized activity.The scientists suggest the way THC disrupts synchronized brain cell activity might help fight seizures. During seizures, brain activity becomes abnormally synchronized. Prior research suggested the brain's natural versions of THC, known as endocannabinoids, helped prevent seizures.Whether or not marijuana is good against epilepsy remains unclear. Anecdotal reports going back centuries say it can help control seizures, but animal studies reveal it could also provoke fits.The neuroscientists report their findings in the December issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience.Source: LiveScience.com (NY)Author: Charles Q. Choi, Special To LiveSciencePublished: November 19, 2006Copyright: 2006 Imaginova Corp.Contact: cqchoi nasw.orgWebsite: http://www.livescience.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #25 posted by observer on November 24, 2006 at 19:49:43 PT 'Neural Noise' Actually Primes Brain Mysterious 'Neural Noise' Actually Primes Brain For Peak PerformanceFrom: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061112094812.htmNov 13, 2006''Researchers at the University of Rochester may have answered one of neuroscience's most vexing questions—how can it be that our neurons, which are responsible for our crystal-clear thoughts, seem to fire in utterly random ways?''mirrored at: http://www.meta-religion.com/Neurology/Brain_regions/neural_noise.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by John Tyler on November 21, 2006 at 11:22:09 PT we are not rats I would also like to add that humans have motivation and a greater decision-making power, rats don’t. If it is important to you, you will learn it. By being a stoner student I think I got a better appreciation of the educational process. I could get into literature and how the various authors were trying to explain the human condition in their eras. I could see history as an ever-weaving pattern of human events driven by the desire for survival and betterment, even if it meant the destruction of other striving people. I won’t bore anyone with more details, but it gave me the chance to really enjoy learning and memorizing my college class lessons and I look back fondly remembering my college days. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by jasgrave333 on November 21, 2006 at 07:49:37 PT: Memory loss? " Why Marijuana Impairs Memory "Errrrrm researchers, you didn't ever test me!And rats DO NOT COUNT... it's a healing medicine that has been used for 1000's of years. How about how Caffiene causes heart attacks, or breathing in OIL polluting Carbon-Monoxide, doesn't just impair physical health, it's causes DEATH!Hypocrites... Please any researchers who are seeking SERIOUS results, come over and ask us REAL Cannabis consumers!sheesh, Alchohol will srhinkle ya winkle... let's go with that. How come Strong liquor is LEGAL then? of course, the world is controlled by a greedy nefarious few... [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on November 21, 2006 at 07:09:11 PT Memory Let's say that Cannabis causes short term memory loss. If it does I think that all the war people in the world could use a little of it and maybe they would forget why they feel a need to kill each other. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by John Tyler on November 21, 2006 at 06:42:43 PT rats with a buzz The neurons sent their chemical signals at the usual rate, but they were out of step with each other, blah, blah, blah. Well, maybe the rats had a nice buzz on and didn't feel like studying. Maybe the rats would have prefered listening to some music and watching mouse cartoons with the sound turned down and nibbling on some rat snacks. The rats weren't forgetting, it as the scientist who were forgetting what a nice buzz was like. I think these scientists need a dose of their own medicine. Take a fraternity rat out and get him really drunk and see if he feels like studying. This is just more “junk science”. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Toker00 on November 21, 2006 at 03:31:24 PT Weird, huh? We have solid, verifiable evidence of the benefits of cannabis and they push it all aside with a "May, could, suggests, hints at, might be". And, because they are "Doctors, Scientists", their "possibilities", though full of holes, lies, and imagination, people who scan these articles take their words as facts.Cannabis MIGHT make you murder someone. Cannabis MAY make your skin fall off and run away. Cannabis HINTS at being the cause of Nuclear Fallout and Global Warming. Cannabis COULD cause your shoes to not fit right.But it DOESN'T, ISN'T, WOULDN'T, and CAN'T.I SUGGEST Anti's MIGHT be lieing about cannabis because it HINTS at being a natural replacement for pharma-poisons, it MAY replace petro-poison, it COULD be the most healthy food on the planet, and could POSSIBLY save the Planet. If people would give us half the chance they give Prohibitionists, we'd rap it up overnight.Wage Peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on November 20, 2006 at 19:21:53 PT Whig I knew what you meant. I believe that cannabis is beneficial but even if it wasn't the laws must be changed because no one should be jailed because of it. It's been a long time and many people have gone thru the prison system and have lost a lot out of their lives. That wrong really needs to be stopped. The benefits are many but the greatest benefit is to stop arresting people. Stop making criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens. Some states any amount is big trouble. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by whig on November 20, 2006 at 19:07:27 PT FoM I'm so afraid to be misinterpreted lately. I mean to say that if cannabis impaired musical coordination, it would be one silly thing to say, but in fact it seems rather to enhance it to the point that not a single decent living musician that I can think of has likely abstained from cannabis.I am like all of us (that post here regularly anyhow) extremely pro-cannabis, not just opposed to its prohibition. So much of the rhetoric we see in behalf of our issue seems to be phrased defensively, to say that cannabis isn't "as bad" as described. But it's quite the opposite, almost completely beneficial. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on November 20, 2006 at 18:40:10 PT Had Enough Thanks. I didn't remember that article but they smoke tobacco with their marijuana. I don't know why they do that though.Whig I would think that to be true about most musicians and marijuana. I just know that Neil has always been vocal about his use. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Had Enough on November 20, 2006 at 18:31:15 PT 50 joints per day… may Make Blood Rush To Head""Somebody smoking 50 joints per day is getting a huge number of carcinogens from the marijuana plant," he notes."http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/20/thread20207.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by whig on November 20, 2006 at 18:19:58 PT FoM What successful living musician hasn't toked? [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on November 20, 2006 at 18:10:21 PT Had Enough No I don't remember that study. Did he die? LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Had Enough on November 20, 2006 at 18:03:50 PT Research Remember that study they had where they had this guy smoking 50 joints a day? [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on November 20, 2006 at 17:58:45 PT Had Enough They didn't test the rats memory. Amazing isn't it? [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 20, 2006 at 17:57:39 PT Whig Yes the Beatles didn't do a good job by the studies opinion. I look at the list of songs that Neil Young has written and recorded and performed and he most definitely enjoys his marijuana. I don't know where they come up with this stuff. It's like they pick it out of the sky and write it down and say they'll believe that.What actually are we talking about? LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Had Enough on November 20, 2006 at 17:41:25 PT re: #8 That is some incredible memory research with THC.“The researchers gave rats shots of a synthetic cannabinoid drug that resembles marijuana's active ingredient, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).” “The findings may explain how marijuana impairs memory, Robbe's team notes. However, the scientists didn't test the rats' memory.”They not only didn’t test the memory (subject of research), they didn’t even use THC.How much did that research cost, and were there any taxpayer money grants involved.I hope these researchers don’t end up working for the FDA. Nothing will be safe to eat. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by whig on November 20, 2006 at 12:18:50 PT FoM Because we know that musicians who smoke pot don't coordinate their performances very well. Like the Beatles, what a ruckus! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 20, 2006 at 11:35:08 PT WebMD: Why Marijuana May Affect Memory Study in Rats Shows Pot-Like Substance Disrupts Brain Cell Coordination By Miranda Hitti Nov. 20, 2006 -- A new study on marijuana and memory may show why using pot hampers memory.The study appears in Nature Neuroscience's advance online edition.Researchers included David Robbe, PhD, of the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.The study was in rats, not people. The researchers gave rats shots of a synthetic cannabinoid drug that resembles marijuana's active ingredient, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). The drug doses were "comparable with recreational and palliative [pain relief] uses in humans," note Robbe and his colleagues. For comparison, other rats got saltwater shots without cannabinoids.Twenty minutes later, the scientists started monitoring the activity of certain nerve cells, or neurons, in the rats' brains.Those neurons normally send chemical signals to communicate with each other. The process occurs seamlessly, like musicians playing in sync with each other in an orchestra.But after the cannibinoid shots, the rats' neurons lost their coordination. The neurons sent their chemical signals at the usual rate, but they were out of step with each other, like an orchestra in which musicians play without working together. The problem was not seen with the saltwater shots.The findings may explain how marijuana impairs memory, Robbe's team notes. However, the scientists didn't test the rats' memory.SOURCES: Robbe, D. Nature Neuroscience, Nov. 19, 2006; advance online publication. News release, Nature and the Nature Research Journals.WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD on Monday, November 20, 2006 Copyright: 2006 WebMD Inc. http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/130/117591.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by ekim on November 20, 2006 at 08:04:58 PT on NPR Diane Rehm show about the Robo Rat that have been hooked up and run with a joy stick.will this be coupled with the MAD people for driving a car or just getting being able to move around. will the MAD people have ON Star call a cop allso. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Had Enough on November 20, 2006 at 05:14:38 PT My Suggestion When the researchers injected rats with THC or a related synthetic drug.This suggests synchronized brain cell activity is crucial for memory formation and hints that THC impairs memory by disrupting this synchronized activity.The scientists suggest the way THC disrupts synchronized brain cell activity might help fight seizures. During seizures, brain activity becomes abnormally synchronized. Prior research suggested the brain's natural versions of THC, known as endocannabinoids, helped prevent seizures.I suggest George W. should whip out his mighty pen, sign a few documents, and move on. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by potpal on November 20, 2006 at 04:18:36 PT Texas swing http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4344708.html "That's what the law says we should do," he [DA] said. "We don't get to make the facts. We don't get to change the law."But they do get to fight like the devil with taxpayer money to oppose reform whenever possible. Just following orders.Peace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by MikeEEEEE on November 19, 2006 at 20:22:11 PT RATS! RATS! RATS! This is a study on rats! NOT HUMANS. But for those who skim the headlines, they miss it. Actually, why don't they ask the rats some memory questions. Ha Ha Ha and a ha ha!I've taken a class on research. RATS! The genius writes: Anecdotal reports going back centuries say it can help control seizures. This idiot got his supporting research from a few centuries ago. We should laugh. Why? GOOD RESEARCH IS CURRENT, for example, 2000-2005. If it were credible, it would have current evidence. A few centuries is crap. By the way, where is the RAT control group? This is such BS. Did people actually pay these guys. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on November 19, 2006 at 18:20:45 PT Music It's interesting that they mention music when many of history's finest musicians' work was enabled by cannabis. Doublethink again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by HempWorld on November 19, 2006 at 17:46:59 PT What A BS Article! "Scientists may have just found out why marijuana impairs memory and why the brain's natural versions of the drug might help against epilepsy...Still, the exact mechanisms by which marijuana impairs memory remain unclear."Yes, it prevents seizures in humans but not in animals, so let's keep it illegal... Duh? All those animals abusing marijuana... let's arrest them! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Truth on November 19, 2006 at 16:31:07 PT What? I forgot what we were talking about. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment