PLOS Science Wednesday: I'm Dr. Peter McCormick, I published a study in PLOS Biology showing that the beneficial effects of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can be separated from the negative cognitive side effects – Ask Me Anything!

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Hi Reddit, my name is Dr. Peter McCormick and I am a lecturer in cell biology at the University of East Anglia. My work focuses on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and the biological role and mechanisms of their dimerization, more specifically, I research GPCR dimers as novel drug targets for various pathologies.

We recently published a study in PLOS Biology entitled “Cognitive Impairment Induced by Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol Occurs through Heteromers between Cannabinoid CB1 and Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptors”.

Marijuana is being used increasingly for the beneficial analgesic properties found in delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but THC also introduces a number of negative cognitive side-effects, including memory impairments, anxiety, and dependence. Past behavioral studies showed a disassociation between the beneficial and negative effects of THC in mice lacking serotonin 5-HT2AR receptors (5-HT2AR). Using a mouse model, our study identified a new molecular mechanism for the interaction between cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1R) and mice deficient in 5-HT2AR receptors to mediate cognitive impairment. Our findings have implications for a new mechanism to separate the negative cognitive effects of THC from its beneficial side effects.

I will be online at 1pm EST (10am PST/5pm GMT) to answer questions about this study – Ask Me Anything!

">PLOS Science Wednesday: I'm Dr. Peter McCormick, I published a study in PLOS Biology showing that the beneficial effects of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can be separated from the negative cognitive side effects – Ask Me Anything!