Challenging beautiful minds: CBD, cognition and brain disorders

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of over 100 compounds that appear to be uniquely found in the Cannabis plant. Alongside tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it is by far the most famous compound from that source, although most of its fame is relatively recently acquired. It lacks the overt psychoactivity familiar from Cannabis consumption, which appears to be mediated primarily by THC acting through a well-established pathway, which CBD doesn’t activate. In contrast with THC, there is a lack of clarity about the molecular target/s of CBD with at least 50 low potency candidates. A current working hypothesis is that this may prove beneficial, inasmuch as CBD is very well tolerated. It is licenced in many locations around the world for the treatment of children with a particular version of epilepsy, which is unresponsive to other medication. Interest in the further potential for medicinal benefit is high, with more than 100 clinical trials currently recruiting with diverse topics ranging from skin disorders to multiple mental health and neurological disorders. I’ll discuss the multi-billion dollar industry surrounding CBD, and the potential benefits, exaggerated claims and significant challenges associated with CBD.

Cognitive deficits, such as problems with memory and attention, have long been mainly linked to decreased activity in certain brain regions. Conversely, it is often assumed that ‘boosting’ brain activity may improve brain functions, such as memory and attention. However, more recent research indicates that the opposite can be the case! Faulty neuronal inhibition, which leads to INCREASED, but poorly controlled, neuron activity in brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, may cause problems with memory and attention, including in schizophrenia and age-related cognitive decline. In this Masterclass Dr Tobias Bast, associate professor with the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham, will discuss experimental psychology and the importance of neuronal inhibition.

Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt your thinking and behaviour to new or changing situations or environments. Our ability to be cognitive flexible allows us to exist in the constantly changing environment we live in, and it helps people learn from mistakes and make better decisions. Cognitive flexibility is often reduced in individuals with brain disorders like schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder and Parkinson’s disease. People with these brain disorders may struggle to adapt their thinking and switch between tasks, which can make it harder for them to process information and make decisions. This reduction in flexibility contributes to some of the challenges they face in daily life. My research explores which parts of the brain control cognitive flexibility and how they go wrong in these disorders.