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Cannabis activates specific hunger neurons in brain (news.wsu.edu)

submitted 7 months ago by Blaze@discuss.tchncs.de to c/science@mander.xyz

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/10849127

While it is well known that cannabis can cause the munchies, researchers have now revealed a mechanism in the brain that promotes appetite in a set of animal studies at Washington State University.

The discovery, detailed in the journal Scientific Reports, could pave the way for refined therapeutics to treat appetite disorders faced by cancer patients as well as anorexia and potentially obesity.

After exposing mice to vaporized cannabis sativa, researchers used calcium imaging technology, which is similar to a brain MRI, to determine how their brain cells responded. They observed that cannabis activated a set of cells in the hypothalamus when the rodents anticipated and consumed palatable food that were not activated in unexposed mice.

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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Was it the cannabis itself, or something specific to sativas? I see they used sativa in the tests, and my own anecdotal experiences have shown me that sativas more often give me the munchies than indicas or indica dominant hybrids. So is it, like, the THC or is it some terpene in specific strains? Or, more likely, a combination of both?

[–] FuckyWucky@hexbear.net 1 points 7 months ago

Mmm hungwy ron-mmm-hungwy

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

That’s just, like, your opinion, man.