Cannabidiol effects on fear processing and implications for PTSD: Evidence from rodent and human studies

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“Cannabidiol (CBD) modulates aversive memory and its extinction, with potential implications for treating anxiety- and stress-related disorders. Here, we summarize and discuss scientific evidence showing that CBD administered after the acquisition (consolidation) and retrieval (reconsolidation) of fear memory attenuates it persistently in rats and mice. CBD also reduces fear expression and enhances fear extinction. These effects involve the activation of cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors in the dorsal hippocampus, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, and medial prefrontal cortex, comprising the anterior cingulate, prelimbic, and infralimbic subregions. Serotonin type-1A (5-HT1A) receptors also mediate some CBD effects on fear memory. CBD effects on fear memory acquisition vary, depending on the aversiveness of the conditioning procedure. While rodent findings are relatively consistent and encouraging, human studies investigating CBD’s efficacy in modulating aversive/traumatic memories are still limited. More studies are needed to investigate CBD’s effects on maladaptive, traumatic memories, particularly in post-traumatic stress disorder patients.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39029986/

“Rodent studies show that CBD can attenuate fear memories at several stages through its interaction with the endocannabinoid system (CB1 receptors). CBD can also reduce the intensity of fear responses through its interaction with 5-HT1A receptors and enhance the extinction of fear. However, the findings regarding CBD effects on fear memory acquisition are mixed. More research is needed to clarify these discrepancies.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0074774224000503?via%3Dihub

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