CB-1 receptor agonist drastically changes oscillatory activity, defining active sleep

Activating the cannabis-1 receptor fundamentally alters brain network activity during sleep. In rats, the CB1-R agonist disrupted the normal structure of intermediate sleep and rapid eye movement sleep episodes, lengthening intermediate sleep six-fold and intruding into REM sleep, where ongoing theta rhythm was drastically reduced. Sleep spindle architecture was also affected: spindle amplitude increased and peak frequency shifted down into the theta range. These results may help explain cannabis's dual effect on cognitive states and the role of network oscillations in psychiatric pathology.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Brain oscillations in different behavioral states are essential for cognition, and oscillopathies contribute to cognitive dysfunction in neuro-psychiatric diseases. Cannabis-1 receptor (CB1-R) activation was reported to suppress theta and fast gamma activities in rats during waking exploration, and here, we show that cannabis fundamentally alters network activity during sleep, as well. Prominent theta rhythm is present in rapid eye movement sleep (REMS), whereas fast oscillations appear as regular sequences of sleep spindles during intermediate sleep (IS) - both implicated in dreaming and memory consolidation. The CB1-R agonist disrupted these mechanisms, restructuring IS-REMS episodes; IS lengthened 6-fold and intruded REMS, where on-going theta was drastically reduced. The spindle architecture was also affected; its amplitude increased, and its peak frequency down-shifted into the theta range. Cannabis is known to induce psychotic-like conditions and cognitive deficits; thus, our results may help understanding the dual effect of cannabis on cognitive states and the role of network oscillations in psychiatric pathology.