Researchers observed rats every day for one hour over three weeks. Each rat could poke a port and release a short burst of cannabis vapor inside a sealed chamber. Students recorded how many times each animal poked.
The team found that rats with higher baseline stress hormones were more likely to self-administer cannabis. The researchers also tested social behaviour, thinking skills and how rats used cues. They saw links between less flexible thinking and higher cannabis seeking.
Difficult words
- self-administer — to give a drug to yourself on purpose
- baseline — basic level measured before any change
- stress hormone — a body chemical released during danger or pressurestress hormones
- social behaviour — how an animal acts with other animals
- cue — a signal or thing that gives informationcues
- flexible — able to change thinking or plans easily
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might higher stress hormones make an animal seek cannabis?
- If you watched an animal for one hour each day, what would you write down and why?
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