A recent study led by neuroscientist Shawn Lockery at the University of Oregon has found that worms exposed to a cannabinoid display behavior similar to humans experiencing “the munchies.” This shows the potential of worms as a research model that could help scientists better understand the endocannabinoid system. This system regulates various body functions such as appetite, mood, and pain sensation, and understanding it better could lead to the development of more effective drugs with fewer side effects. By using worms to study this system, scientists could potentially identify better drug targets with fewer unwanted effects. The study, which was published in the journal Current Biology, highlights the old evolutionary roots of the endocannabinoid system, and its similarity in response between worms and humans suggests that worms can be a useful model for studying the system.
