CB1 receptor signaling at the cingulate-striatal circuit is anxiogenic
Nature Communications April 8, 2026 Thomas J. Kelly, Xiaojie Liu, Yao Huang et al.
Cannabinoids, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produce anxiety at high doses, yet the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) sends dense monosynaptic projections to the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). Optogenetic excitation of the ACC → DMS pathway promotes anxiolytic-like behavior, suggesting that its suppression could induce anxiogenic...