The principle active constituent in the complex combination of cannabinoids in extracts of Marijuana or Cannabis Sativa is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). It is a sticky resin that is insoluble in water, and smoking has been the most effective way of conveying the drug into the human body system. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the most vigorous cannabinoid found in marijuana and is a fractional agonist for CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors (Han et al., 2012). When THC arrives in the human body, it can cause a deficiency of the spatial working memory. The working memory can uphold and safeguard the section where information is preserved in the working memory over a specific duration. It also acts on a cognitive awareness approach that enables an individual to reminisce various destinations, people, passwords and spatial relations between elements (Mckinnon et al., 2016). The paper considers the mechanisms of THC and its effects on an individual’s spatial working memory.
Medics continue to offer treatment for nausea, ischemia, cerebral trauma and pain in patients via therapeutic derivatives of THC. This treatment procedure has had critics limiting THC's importance to its side effects, majorly, the intoxication or impairment of the spatial working memory. The effects of the cannabis compound have continued to attract controversies among scholars, with many of them proving that the pros outweigh the cons. THC's therapeutic application has acted as a pain reliever to patients and acts as a stimulant in body relaxation. It tends to relax and calm the mind in times of body pressure, bringing a cooling effect to the body. Its effects on the cellular mechanism are unknown to many as medics continue to warn about tetrahydrocannabinol adverse effects.
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The chemical structure of THC is comparable to the brain substance referred to as anandamide. The resemblance in structure permits the human body to identify the THC and alters regular brain communication. An Anandamide serves as a neurotransmitter since it sends chemical reports amongst the nerve cells in the entire nervous system (Hurd et al., 2019). The effects that occur to the brain working areas impact memory and thinking, Concertation, sensory section, body coordination, and pleasure. Due to the similarity between the two, THC can attach to the molecules known as cannabinoid receptors found in the neurons and activate their processes. This, in turn, disrupts the various physical and mental aspects affecting the neural communication network. The nervous system's critical role is affected and has profound effects such as loss of memory and decreased Concertation levels.
The alteration of the hippocampus's functioning is brought about by THC's presence in the human body system. The hippocampus is a small and curved brain section that plays an essential role in the brain's limbic function. It is involved in creating and developing new memories (Cristino, Bisogno, & Di Marzo, 2019). Once affected, an individual will have difficulties with emotions and weakened learning abilities. THC also affects the orbitofrontal cortex that is linked to the hippocampus. When the formation of new memories no longer functions properly, one lacks the self-control to drive attentional focus and might be affected by peer pressure. Impaired reasoning makes one unable to perform complex tasks.
Additionally, THC disrupts the functioning of the basal ganglia and cerebellum. According to Liu-Ambrose et al. (2016), the two sections are responsible in the brain for regulating body balance, coordination, body posture and time reaction. The scenario explains why most marijuana users are unable to drive safely. No matter the time, most users will be affected by a lack of concentration on the roads resulting in accidents and human lives loss. Many marijuana smokers are associated with problems of engaging in sporting activities and exercising. Exercising requires individuals with an upright and coordinated mindset, which many marijuana users lack. The inability to participate in exercises renders the body weak making it vulnerable to diseases.
When acting via cannabinoid receptors, THC affects the spatial working memory, which in turn paralyzes the physiological processes in the human body (Schonhofen et al., 2018). The acute physiological side effect of marijuana users involves the redness of the eyes on the drug's onset, common in marijuana smokers. It results in a decrease in the intraocular pressure and causes the eye capillaries to fill with blood. The prolonged smoking of marijuana results in eye complications and causes dryness in the mouth due to deprived salivary production in the glands. The skin of a THC user is sensitive to heat or cold. An individual might feel warm when the environment is cold or warm when the environment is cold. An increase in heartbeat rate is evident when there is a presence of THC in the body.
Being a modulation of endogenous cannabinoids, THC affects the cognitive function by stimulation of the cannabinoid receptors. The cognitive operations occur in the spatial working memory, and if impaired, it harms the human brain. When the brain malfunctions, there is a possibility of suffering from psychosis. Psychotic disorders are associated with morbidity, significant disability, and a drastic reduction of life expectancy (Fernandez-Quintana et al., 2017). Regular use of cannabis is a contributory factor that leads to schizophreniform psychosis. Psychotic disorders do affect not only the user but also the people directly depending on the user. Stigma develops and increases in society leading to adverse effects that are undesirable to all.
The use of marijuana has been associated with medical and recreation over the years. The central psychoactive element of marijuana is THC. Since it was discovered, its effects on the spatial working memory have been extensively adverse, bringing impairments of memory, sedation, loss of concentration, remembering and physiological effects such as increased heartbeat and redness of the eyes. The cloning of cannabinoid receptors allows THC to have the ability to combine with neuron cells and leads to the development of new molecules in the brain that display different intrinsic behaviors in individuals. A deterioration of the spatial working memory is eminent when people ingest drugs or substances with cannabinoid compounds. The adverse effects of cannabinoids on the working memory are exerted through receptors in the basal ganglia and cerebellum. This effect is linked to a reduction in the hippocampus's neural connections, which is responsible for coordinating the working memory progress. Any individual's cognitive awareness is impacted by regular exercises such as road runs and weight lifting, concentration patterns, and remembering and retrieving memories. However, the use of THC affects these processes causing adverse implications for cannabis users. Vehicular accidents accompanied by an increase in the risk of psychosis are among THC's effects that lead to stigmatization of individuals and thus should be avoided at all costs.
References
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