Grant: Operating Grant

Cannabis contains chemicals named cannabinoids which exert their effects on behavior by acting upon cannabinoid receptors in the brain. It is known that the brain also produces its own cannabinoids, known as endocannabinoids. One important function of endocannabinoids is to regulate emotional behavior and stress responsivity through interactions with cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Our laboratory has recently shown that endocannabinoids may be involved in the development of major depression as endocannabinoid levels are reduced in individuals with major depression and increased following antidepressant treatment. One mechanism by which endocannabinoids may influence the development of depressive illness is by modulating the physiological and behavioral responses to stress. The aim of this research is to examine the role endocannabinoids play in the ability of the brain to adapt to stress and if endocannabinoids are involved in the changes in emotional behavior that are induced by exposure to stressful stimuli. Ultimately, this research will help us to understand the role of endocannabinoids in resilience to stress and how deficits in this system may increase human vulnerability to stress-related mental illness.