• Author
    Guillermo Nunez Hernandez
  • Discovery PI

    Stephen Marder

  • Project Co-Author

    Stephen Marder

  • Abstract Title

    Cannabis, Signal-to-Noise, and the Endocannabinoid System in Psychosis Susceptibility

  • Discovery AOC Petal or Dual Degree Program

    Basic, Clinical, & Translational Research

  • Abstract

    Cannabis is widely used and is associated with a strong increased risk of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. However, the risk is heterogenous, with only a fraction of individuals developing psychotic symptoms despite similar exposure patterns. The mechanism explaining this difference in susceptibility remains poorly understood.

    In this narrative review, we propose a pathophysiological model in which disruption of the endocannabinoid systems retrograde signaling contributes to the dysregulation of hippocampal-prefrontal circuitry. We examine how insults can promote downstream hyperdopaminergia and subsequently aberrant salience. We explore a mechanistic link between cannabis exposure and the development of psychotic symptoms.

    This model offers a systems-level explanation for why some individuals have increased vulnerability and highlights potential targets for future research into the neurophysiological basis of cannabis-associated psychosis.

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