Animal Study Reports CBD Improved Social Learning
An animal study examining socially transmitted food preference found that CBD may modulate acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the brain, and influence behavior. Researchers from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan published their research in Psychopharmacology. They found that cannabidiol may affect social behavior through its influence on cognitive processes.
The project investigated whether CBD could affect acetylcholine levels in the brains of mice, potentially altering social learning. Acetylcholine is involved in attention and memory. To assess a specific behavior, the researchers focused on socially transmitted food preference learning. Mice could acquire information about safe food choices from interactions with other mice who consumed particular flavored foods. This kind of behavior is referred to as socially transmitted food preference learning because social interactions and memory influence it.
Some male mice were given a single dose of CBD (20 mg per kg) 30 minutes before they were allowed to socially interact with a mouse that had consumed a flavored food. After the interaction, the mice that took CBD were tested to see if they chose to consume the same food.
The mice that took CBD showed a significantly stronger preference for the flavored food compared to those that did not receive CBD. Their preference for flavored food was still in effect 24 hours later. This suggests that CBD enhances both short-term and long-term memory. At that point, the researchers investigated how CBD might have this effect by examining acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter produced in the brain.
First, the researchers decreased the activity of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, by injecting antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. The lowered acetylcholinesterase levels in the brain enhanced the mice’s food preference memory, similar to the effects of CBD.
In a second experiment, the researchers administered scopolamine to the mice, which blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. When the mice were treated with CBD and scopolamine, CBD’s memory effects disappeared, suggesting that the muscarinic receptors play an essential role in supporting CBD’s cognitive benefits.
A third step in the experiment involved measuring acetylcholine levels in the brain after the mice consumed CBD. The researchers found a correlation between CBD-treated mice and a stronger food preference memory and higher acetylcholine levels in the brain.
The experiment’s results suggest that CBD can increase acetylcholine signaling in the brain, which enhances memory and social learning. However, this was not true for all the CBD-treated mice.
“The study highlights individual differences in how animals respond to CBD. Not all CBD-treated mice showed increased acetylcholine levels or improved memory. Only a subset appeared to benefit, which the researchers suggest may have implications for personalized medicine. In clinical contexts, CBD might enhance cognition in some individuals but have limited or no effects in others.”
The scientists ruled out several other possible explanations for the results, and human studies are needed.
Clinical studies have demonstrated that CBD may enhance cognitive functioning, including focus and alertness. However, researchers still have not learned exactly how CBD works in the brain. This study is a step in that direction. There is still a lot to learn about cannabinoids, but the body of evidence showing positive effects is rapidly growing.
0