Abstract:
Value-based decision making plays a significant role in the lives and functioning of many organisms and is impacted by drug use often resulting in negative outcomes. Marijuana’s active chemicals mimic the existing neurochemicals in the endocannabinoid system to elicit altered decisions. One of the most well-known alterations in decision making caused by cannabinoids is an increased appetite for nutrient dense foods, which is referred to as hedonic feeding. Understanding cannabinoid signaling pathways can aid in illuminating how drugs alter food preferences and decision making. This study investigates whether genetic screens for hedonic amplification in C. elegans is possible by establishing broad sense heritability of the trait.