Cannabis, psychosis and the thalamus: a theoretical review.
- Authors
- Vukadinovic, Zoran; Herman, Merrill S; Rosenzweig, Ivana
- Year
- 2013
- Journal
- Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
- PMID
- 23458778
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.02.013
The role of cannabis in the etiology of schizophrenia has been documented as possibly the strongest environmental risk factor. However, the pathomechanism whereby cannabis use increases this risk has not yet been identified. We argue that this pathomechanism may involve direct effects of exogenous cannabinoids on T-type calcium channels in the thalamus. These channels are crucial for amplification of corticothalamic inputs, as well as for the ability of the thalamus to generate neuronal burst firing. Cortically induced thalamic burst firing has been found to be important in trans-thalamic cortico-cortical interactions. Therefore, any potential interference with the burst firing mode in the thalamus could lead to an impairment in these interactions, which in turn causes a relative disconnection between cortical areas. This in turn could result in reduced ability to recognize re-afferent sensory inputs and psychosis. We also argue that the effects of Ξ(9)THC are more detrimental compared with the effects of cannabidiol, as the former may increase the excitability of thalamic neurons by its direct effect on T-type calcium channels.
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External
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ξ<sup>9</sup>-Tetrahydrocannabinol Alters Limbic and Frontal Functional Brain Connectomes Among Young Adult Cannabis Users. | Anderson Z et al. | β | 2026 | β |
| Unraveling the Enigma of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Narrative Review of Diagnosis and Management. | Smith SA et al. | β | 2025 | β |
| Local activation of CB1 receptors by synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids dampens burst firing mode of reticular thalamic nucleus neurons in rats under ketamine anesthesia. | Aguirre-RodrΓguez CA et al. | β | 2024 | β |
| Multimodal MRI data fusion reveals distinct structural, functional and neurochemical correlates of heavy cannabis use. | Hirjak D et al. | β | 2022 | β |
| A regulatory variant of CHRM3 is associated with cannabis-induced hallucinations in European Americans. | Cheng Z et al. | β | 2019 | β |
| Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Ξ<sup>9</sup>-Tetrahydrocannabinol. | Banister SD et al. | β | 2019 | β |
| Subcortical Local Functional Hyperconnectivity in Cannabis Dependence. | Manza P et al. | β | 2018 | β |
| Is insulin growth factor-1 the future for treating autism spectrum disorder and/or schizophrenia? | Bou Khalil R | β | 2017 | β |
| Elevated striatal dopamine attenuates nigrothalamic inputs and impairs transthalamic cortico-cortical communication in schizophrenia: a hypothesis. | Vukadinovic Z | β | 2015 | β |
| Thalamocortical integration of instrumental learning and performance and their disintegration in addiction. | Balleine BW et al. | β | 2015 | β |
| NMDA receptor hypofunction and the thalamus in schizophrenia. | Vukadinovic Z | β | 2014 | β |