Cannabis, psychosis and the thalamus: a theoretical review.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews May 1, 2013 Zoran Vukadinovic, Merrill S Herman, Ivana Rosenzweig
Cannabis use is a strong environmental risk factor for schizophrenia, but the mechanism is unknown. This theoretical paper argues that exogenous cannabinoids may directly affect T-type calcium channels in the thalamus. These channels are critical for amplifying corticothalamic inputs and generating neuronal burst firing, which is important for trans-thalamic cortico-cortical interactions. Interference with burst firing could impair these interactions, leading to a relative disconnection between cortical areas, reduced ability to recognize re-afferent sensory inputs, and psychosis. Δ(9)THC may be more detrimental than cannabidiol because it increases thalamic neuron excitability through its direct effect on T-type calcium channels.