Mind & Matter
Whether food, drugs or ideas, what you consume influences who you become. Learn directly from the best scientists & thinkers alive today about how your mind-body reacts to what you feed it.
The weekly M&M podcast features conversations with the most interesting scientists, thinkers, and technology entrepreneurs alive today.
Not medical advice.
At M&M, we are interested in trying to figure out how things work, not affirming our existing beliefs. We prefer consulting primary rather than secondary sources and independent rather than institutional voices. If we encounter uncomfortable truths or the evidence suggests unfashionable ideas may be valid, so be it.
As the host, my aim is to help you better understand how the body & mind work by curating & synthesizing information in a way that yields science-based insights that you can choose to use or disregard in your own life. Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.
I am motivated to connect the dots and distill general principles from what I learn, preferring to ask questions and play devil’s advocate to debating or incessantly pushing my own viewpoint.
My beliefs:
- Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.
- All knowledge is provisional and we must work hard to prevent ourselves from becoming attached to our favorite ideas & preferred conclusions.
- Wisdom comes from an iterative, trial-and-error process of learning and unlearning. Letting go of pre-conceived notions can be painful, but pain is information.
Sometimes modern discoveries teach us we must unlearn received wisdom. Other times, modern information overload & historical chauvinism cause us to forget ancient wisdom which stills applies. The framework for learning that I embody is inspired by three Ancient Greek maxims inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi:
- “Γνῶθι σεαυτόν” (Know thyself)
- “Μηδὲν ἄγαν” (Nothing in excess)
- “Ἐγγύα πάρα δ Ἄτα” (Certainty brings insanity)
Mind & Matter
Cannabinoid System: Metabolism, Evolution & Energy Storage | Giovanni Marsicano | 245
What is the core evolved function of the endocannabinoid system?
Episode Summary: Dr. Giovanni Marsicano is a neuroscientist based in Bordeaux, France, where he leads a research group at INSERM focusing on the endocannabinoid system.
About the guest: Giovanni Marsicano, PhD discusses the endocannabinoid system, starting with its core components like CB1 receptors and lipid-based molecules derived from omega-6 fatty acids; its cellular signaling, evolutionary role in energy storage for uncertain futures (exostasis vs. homeostasis); effects across tissues; motivation, appetite, pain relief, and anxiety regulation; biphasic effects of cannabinoids.
Discussion Points:
- The endocannabinoid system acts as an "exostatic" regulator, promoting energy accumulation for future needs by enhancing food palatability, nutrient absorption, and fat storage, unlike "endostatic" systems that address immediate hunger.
- CB1 receptors appear in vertebrates with adipose tissue, suggesting an evolutionary link to storing fat for survival in unstable environments.
- Endocannabinoids are lipids from omega-6 fats; high intake boosts their levels, potentially fueling obesity by creating a self-perpetuating cycle of overeating.
- Activation of CB1 can have biphasic effects due to receptors on different cell types like excitatory vs. inhibitory neurons.
- Pregnenolone, a steroid precursor, acts as a natural CB1 inhibitor to prevent excessive activation, blocking harmful effects like psychosis from high THC doses.
- The system influences motivation beyond food, including sex and even human activities like sports or storytelling, by rewarding actions for potential future benefits.
- In the brain, CB1 on mitochondria and astrocytes modulates energy use, olfaction, and social stress transmission, with implications for disorders like Alzheimer's.
Reference Paper:
Related episode:
- M&M 123: Endocannabinoids, Stress, Anxiety, Cannabis | Matthew Hill
*Not medical advice.
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