Cannabis and the Developing Brain - Softcover

Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

Miriam Melis is an Associate Professor at the University of Cagliari, Italy. She holds a PharmD (University of Palermo, 1993) as well as a PhD in Neuroscience (University of Cagliari, 2011). During her career she worked as a Research Fellow for two years at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at UCSF and as a Visiting Scientist at Lund Universitet Wallenberg Neuroscience Center in 2011. Her research is focused on understanding neurobiological mechanisms (i.e., adaptations of both mesocorticolimbic dopamine and endocannabinoid signaling) of resilience and susceptibility to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes leading to neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., psychotic- spectrum, substance use disorder, antisocial behavior, anxiety, depression). She has published 46 research papers, 5 book chapters and edited two books specifically on the effects of (endo)cannabinoids in the CNS.

Olivier Manzoni is a Research Director at INSERM in Marseille and director of the International Associated Laboratory CannaLab (University of Indiana, Bloomington USA / Aix-Marseille University, France). His research is centered on understanding the molecular basis of synaptic plasticity in normal and pathological conditions, with a focus on the function of the endocannabinoid system and the effects of cannabis during lifetime.

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Marijuana is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the United States, after alcohol. According to a 2018 NIH report, more than 11.8 million young adults reported marijuana use. With the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, momentum continues to build and propelled by the reduction of stigma associated to its consumption, there is growing concern regarding the long-term impact on brain function and behavior.

Cannabis and the Developing Brain aims to provide comprehensive research on the effects of cannabis during neurodevelopment stages (i.e. perinatal and adolescent ages). This book introduces readers to vivo neural circuits, molecular and cellular mechanisms affected by cannabis exposure during three different temporal windows of brain vulnerability. Second, it offers a unique insight to shared neurobiological features of cannabinoid exposure during different developmental periods. Lastly, Cannabis and the Developing Brain determines the adverse impact of developmental cannabinoid exposure on specific cognition, emotion and behaviors.