Biphasic effects of THC in memory and cognition.
Edward J Calabrese, Alberto Rubio-Casillas
European journal of clinical investigation May 2018 DOI: 10.1111/eci.12920 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Alzheimer's disease Biphasic dose response Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol Hormesis Neuroprotection |
| Key points | Argues that THC's apparently contradictory effects on memory and cognition—impairment at typical doses versus improvement in old animals at low chronic doses—can be explained by hormesis, a biphasic dose-response in which low and high doses produce opposite effects. |
Abstract
A generally undesired effect of cannabis smoking is a reversible disruption of short-term memory induced by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. However, this paradigm has been recently challenged by a group of scientists who have shown that THC is also able to improve neurological function in old animals when chronically administered at low concentrations. Moreover, recent studies demonstrated that THC paradoxically promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, prevents neurodegenerative processes occurring in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, protects from inflammation-induced cognitive damage and restores memory and cognitive function in old mice. With the aim to reconcile these seemingly contradictory facts, this work will show that such paradox can be explained within the framework of hormesis, defined as a biphasic dose-response.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta-8, Delta-10, HHC, THC-O, THCP, and THCV: What Should We Call These Products? | 2023 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Model Psychoses Induced by LSD-25 in Normals | 1956 | Historical analysis | |
| Is there a specific ‘cannabis psychosis’? | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Peak-experience and the entheogenic use of cannabis in world religions | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Out of Harm's Way?: Illicit Drug Use, Medicalization and the Law | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 15
- Effects of inhaled cannabis high in Δ9-THC or CBD on the aging brain: A translational MRI and behavioral study Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience February 1, 2023
- Impaired mnemonic pattern separation associated with PTSD symptoms paradoxically improves with regular cannabis use npj Mental Health Research April 24, 2025
- Wpływ marihuany na aktywność elektryczną mózgu Kosmos April 11, 2020
- Regulation of neural connectivity and oscillations by cannabinoids: A review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews September 7, 2026
- Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Modulates Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Female Wistar Rats: Interaction with Estradiol. Neurochemical Research August 8, 2026
and 10 more in the library
Cites 8
- High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis The British Journal of Psychiatry November 30, 2009
- Cannabis with high cannabidiol content is associated with fewer psychotic experiences. Schizophrenia Research August 2011
- Effects of Endocannabinoid System Modulation on Cognitive and Emotional Behavior Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience July 22, 2011
- Impact of cannabidiol on the acute memory and psychotomimetic effects of smoked cannabis: naturalistic study: naturalistic study [corrected]. The British Journal of Psychiatry October 2010
- Long-term consequences of a single treatment of mice with an ultra-low dose of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Behavioural Brain Research January 20, 2010
and 3 more in the library