Cannabinoids and Vanilloids in Schizophrenia: Neurophysiological Evidence and Directions for Basic Research
Frontiers in Pharmacology June 21, 2017 Rafael Naime Ruggiero, Matheus Teixeira Rossignoli, Jana Batista de Ross et al. 37 citations
Research on the endocannabinoid system in schizophrenia has largely relied on rodent behavioral measures such as prepulse inhibition and open-field locomotion, often combined with neurochemical or drug challenge methods. These approaches help map sensorimotor gating, hyperlocomotion, social interaction, and underlying neurotransmitter disturbances. However, greater use of neurophysiological tools like electrophysiology and optogenetics is needed to clarify how exogenous cannabinoids—THC worsening symptoms and CBD ameliorating them—affect hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive deficits. Recent evidence also highlights a complex interplay between the endocannabinoid and endovanilloid systems, particularly anandamide's influence on cognitive variables like aversive memory extinction, with TRPV1 receptors emerging as promising therapeutic targets.