Q: Which parts of the brain does THC affect? A: There are cannabinoid receptors all over the brain, including the neocortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and the brain stem. This results in a wide range of effects, including mental, behavioral, and physiological changes.
Full Answer
THC reaches your brain seconds after inhalation and behaves like anandamide by locking into cannabinoid receptors and activating neurons. Any time neurons fire, physiological and psychological effects occur at varying levels. Inside the brain, cannabinoid receptors are highly concentrated in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and hippocampus.
Perception: A person’s perception of sights, sounds, touch and other sensations will often be affected by the chemical THC. In addition, an individual will not be able to perceive the passage of time as well as they normally can, and time may seem to pass very slowly or very quickly.
The basal ganglia are responsible for unconscious muscle movements, and when it receives a dose of THC, motor function may become impaired. THC also affects coordination, which is controlled by the cerebellum.
Lowering of IQ: According to the NIDA, studies have shown that “heavy cannabis use begun in the teen years and continued into adulthood brings about declines in IQ scores.” This is extremely disconcerting as it proves the learning and memory effects that the drug causes in the short-term can become lasting.
The THC affects the brain’s endocannabinoid system by overwhelming its receptors. It acts as another kind of cannabinoid (natural chemicals that occur in the brain) and overwhelms the endocannabinoid system. The system is then unable to function properly, and this causes a number of effects on the brain and the body.
As stated by the NIDA, “Higher THC levels may mean a greater risk for addiction if users are regularly exposing themselves to high doses.”. Hallucinations, extreme paranoia, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts have also all been linked to long-term use of marijuana and THC.
Some people decide to drive while high because their judgment is impaired, and they believe themselves capable when they are not. This can lead to an accident or other problems as the result of poor coordination, poor concentration, and slowed reaction times. The immediate effects of THC on the brain should be understood because, ...
Some of the brain functions the chemical affects immediately include: Memory and learning : When someone is currently high, it will be harder for that person to retain things they recently learned or even to remember things that just happened (or that happened previously).
Coordination: Since a person’s perception of their own body and what’s around them will often be distorted, their coordination will be affected as well. This also happens because the brain experiences a slowed reaction time when a person is high.
In addition, the abuse of marijuana in the long-term can cause a preexisting case of schizophrenia to worsen. Addiction: Addiction does occur when individuals abuse the drug over a long period of time. This can also be directly affected by the amount of THC in the marijuana abused.
THC is the active ingredient in Marijuana. The chemical THC is the most well known of those found in marijuana, even though “marijuana contains some 400 other chemicals as well” ( CESAR ). In fact, synthetic THC has become a more commonly created product as of late, especially as a result of the medicinal use of marijuana.
The human body contains a cell-signaling system known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
Despite the negative propaganda saying that weed makes you lazy or unproductive, what we know about THC and the brain tells us otherwise.
If you are a new cannabis user, start small and take time to observe how marijuana affects you.