00:00Mice, given a synthetic cannabinoid, froze twice as often near a predator's scent.
00:04Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine linked this to brain activity changes.
00:10The drug increased firing in somatostatin neurons inside the central amygdala, a fear-processing brain region.
00:17When these neurons were silenced genetically, the mice showed less avoidance of the predator odor.
00:22This suggests these cells drive the anxious response triggered by cannabinoids.
00:26The drug weakened a natural brain break on these neurons, making them more active.
00:32Higher doses and stress combined to release this break, causing more anxiety, Dr. Sachin Patel explained.
00:39Cannabis use and related emergency visits have risen in the U.S., while anxiety disorders are increasing worldwide.
00:46Patel said understanding these neurons could help reduce anxiety beyond cannabis effects.
00:51Suppressing somatostatin neuron activity might offer a new way to ease anxiety symptoms overall.
00:56Disclosure.
00:57This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
