Some of us are self-professed ‘thinkers’, while others are ‘doers’. Regardless of our approaches to tackling tasks, we all have the capacity for original thought. What’s more, we all have unique personalities and experiences that influence how we think. If your mind has ever felt burdened by stress, wellbeing challenges, and the broader pressures of life, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll help you wrap your head around CBD as a potential ‘cognition booster’ that may possibly influence your brain chemistry, mental performance, and more. As a supplement, it might just offer some food for thought.
Before we appreciate the inner-workings of the mind, let’s start with three simple letters. While CBT stands for cognitive behavioural therapy, CBD stands for cannabidiol – a unique plant compound present in the leaves, stems, and flowers of cannabis Sativa (most commonly the ‘hemp’ subspecies). As a natural and non-intoxicating substance, CBD may offer some potential clinical and therapeutic benefits – making it an exciting new addition to the modern wellness market. We’ll study it in more detail shortly, but for now, let’s put our thinking caps on.
Introduction to Cognition
While the word cognition sounds a bit out of place in everyday conversation, its original Latin meaning is much more accessible. Historically, it comes from the word cognoscere – which simply means ‘to know’. When was the last time you used the phrase “I know”? Often, it’s an intuitive statement that rolls off our tongues in a diverse range of circumstances. Perhaps you last said “I know” when your kids reminded you (for the fifth time) that you promised to let them stay up late. Maybe it was to express your humour over a relatable situation at work, or your sympathy towards a loved one as they shared their troubles.
On some level, we all have a hunger to know and understand ourselves, others, and the world around us. This human consciousness has endured throughout history – inspiring many great minds to attempt to explain and rationalise how we ‘know’.
While legendary philosophers such as Aristotle focussed on the heart, the 16th-century French theorist Descartes was one of the first people to focus on the brain. Among other things, he became famous for the iconic quote cogito, ero sum – “I think, therefore I am.” At around the same time, philosopher Thomas Willis suggested that various parts of our brain anatomy may support different thinking processes. Nowadays, we refer to this school of thought as Cognitive Psychology – an incredibly complex field. This article will present some thought-provoking points that will help us contemplate CBD from a cognitive angle.
What is Cognition?
Cognition is an umbrella term that describes the diverse mental processes that help us acquire and interpret information via learning or first-hand experience. It’s about gathering and judging information from a broad range of influences – from facts and figures to personal perception. These processes typically involve fairly advanced brain functions connected with calculating, memorising, solving problems, assessing, and reflecting.
At this stage, it helps for us to briefly review some of the widely-recognised cognitive skills that shape how we process and interpret our realities. Even at this moment, diverse functions are taking place in your mind as you read.
Some of these include:
- Comprehending language
- Paying attention
- Committing details to memory
- Learning
- Conscious thinking, reasoning, and decision-making
- Psychological wellbeing
While our brains may be structurally similar, and we might go through comparable life experiences, thought patterns can vary drastically from person to person. Your amygdala may closely resemble textbook illustrations or photographs, but the emotional responses it houses are highly personalised.
What is Cognitive Bias and How Might It Affect Us?
In a competition or court case, a biased judge is one who deliberately uses their preconceived notions to determine who wins or loses – rather than being ‘open’ and objectively reviewing the facts. While this may lead to a quick conclusion, it isn’t necessarily the right one. Perhaps you’ve had an experience where you felt you were ruled out before being given a fair shot.
Similarly, our minds can sometimes harbour generalisations and stereotypes that become the primary lenses that we perceive the world through. These tendencies are known as ‘cognitive biases’ and were first theorised in the 1970s by Tversky and Kahneman. Some of these ideas have gone on to influence popular personality theories such as Myers-Briggs.
According to experts at VeryWellMind, the ways that we interpret information can sometimes limit or distort our thinking. We might automatically dismiss or ‘write off’ the possibilities – failing to recognise the full potential in people, places, and circumstances…even ourselves! As you can imagine, these subtle attitudes can significantly impact our decisions, relationships, and, in turn, our overall quality of life. While cognitive biases are not the focus of this article, it’s essential to know about them. Another theme we’ll briefly touch upon is CBT – a complex process that involves confronting and transforming unhelpful thought patterns.
In a nutshell, CBT is a talking therapy that encourages ‘metacognition’ – paying deliberate attention to your mental processes and modifying them according to your personal goals. It’s a clinically-focussed opportunity to identify and tackle interconnected thoughts, feelings, and behaviours with a licenced therapist. Most experts credit an American psychoanalyst named Dr Aaron T. Beck with CBT’s formal creation in the 1960s. However, it does share a common thread with many other facets of modern psychotherapy: particularly its mission to acknowledge, dismantle, and reconstruct how we think.
CBT is a strategy that some people use to gain perspective and a new sense of control over their thoughts and choices. Some may also find self-perceived therapeutic value in self-care – incorporating practices such as massage, meditation, and CBD consumption as part of a daily feel-good ritual. Before we turn our attention to cannabis compounds, let’s review some of the more overt influences that may impact our cognition.
Common Causes of Cognitive Impairment
Before we attempt to answer the title question (“Is CBD the next cognition booster?”), we should take a moment to consider a few factors that might restrict your standard thinking-and-reasoning skills. While we all have different intellectual strengths to bring to the table, there is a certain measure of confidence that comes with feeling sharp and on-the-ball. A witty remark or new solution can increase your productivity and make social interactions feel more enjoyable on a good day. Other times, feeling put on the spot can potentially highlight areas where your mind struggles to work at the same pace that it used to. These feelings and experiences can sometimes be caused by cognitive impairment (or ‘cognitive decline’).
While it’s perfectly normal for your cognitive performance to change as you move through different stages of life, it’s good to be aware of a few key factors that can potentially accelerate cognitive impairment. As you can imagine, the four points we’ve summarised here are only the tip of the iceberg:
The Natural Ageing Process
Mild cognitive impairment is a prevalent and inconvenient part of the natural ageing processes that we will all experience at one point or another. However, it can sometimes make people feel rather lonely and self-conscious – particularly if they find themselves lost for words or forgetting important details. At its most extreme level, age-related cognitive decline can be a symptom of more comprehensive issues such as Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. According to the National Institute on Ageing, maintaining a good diet and a mentally-stimulating lifestyle can boost your cognitive health and prevent some forms of cognitive decline.
Stress Levels
Sometimes, stress imparts precisely the kind of intense and situational pressure we need to meet deadlines, manage conflicts, or stay safe from danger. While it sends our minds racing and our hearts beating rapidly, the symptoms of stress shouldn’t have a significant or prolonged impact on our day-to-day lives. Unless, of course, we’re struggling with chronic stress – a continual state of agitation that can impact our bodies and minds in the long-term. In a recent study involving rodents, researchers suggest that the glutamate receptors in our brains (associated with memory and learning signals) might face excessive damage when we experience stress repeatedly.
Therefore, we must do all we can to take care of ourselves and find healthy outlets for relieving pressure. If left unaddressed, chronic stress may make you more vulnerable to developing physical illnesses and other wellbeing challenges.
Mental Health Challenges
Broader mental health challenges can influence how we think, recollect, and learn new things. They can also impact our perspectives, moods, and outlooks – whether we’re struggling with trauma, the continual worries that accompany anxiety disorders, or the feelings of sadness and defeat that depression brings. It goes without saying that mental health also impacts our brains at a physical level. For example, some chronic pain conditions can originate from psychological trauma, but manifest in distracting and overwhelming sensations felt throughout your body. In his study on cognitive impairment and mental disorders, researcher J.K. Trivedi suggests that some common mental health issues may impact the focus, data-handing, and memory regions of the prefrontal cortex. However, with the proper support and treatment, these functions can usually return.
It comes as no surprise to note that controlled substances such as alcohol and “marijuana” can impair your senses. For this reason, there are strict laws about driving under the influence, and some workplaces enforce mandatory drug tests as an extra protective measure. According to recent research on cognitive impairment and substance abuse, the parts of the brain that we associate with memory and information may also be responsible for processing addictive urges. Thus, the more a person struggles with substance abuse, the more they potentially damage their cognitive structures – arguably making it even harder for them to exercise restraint. However, this impairment may also have a chance of being salvaged with appropriate intervention and care.
As you may imagine, the list of factors that can influence (and possibly limit) your mindset is endless. Widespread challenges, such as stress and ageing, may motivate us to make significant lifestyle changes to promote our wellbeing. We may even want to experiment with ‘cognition boosters’ that might possibly help us feel more mentally prepared. Let’s have a look at this concept in closer detail.
What Are Nootropics (‘Cognition Boosters’)?
If you’ve never heard of nootropics before, you’re not alone. Informally known as ‘cognition boosters’ or ‘smart drugs’, nootropics are food supplements that might possibly impact our mental performance. The natural caffeine that characterises your morning coffee or tea is technically a nootropic – since it stimulates the neurotransmitters in your brain and can affect how you interpret and store short-term information. Unfortunately, students and professionals working in high-pressure environments can sometimes fall prey to the ‘dark side’ of these trends: using illegal substances and potentially dangerous synthetic drugs. In a modern world that’s often preoccupied with achievement and productivity, the idea of enhancing your cognitive performance seems to promise a competitive edge. However, we must exercise caution and look at the facts.
Does Nature Know Best?
While we can trace botanical substances such as caffeine and ginseng back to original plant sources, synthetic nootropics are products that manufacturers engineer in controlled settings. A recent study involving college students suggests that consuming artificial ‘ampakines’ might impair your spatial memory and possibly have some adverse effects on motor functioning. On the other hand, some researchers suggest that moderate doses of plant-based nootropics may potentially represent a relatively low-risk opportunity to support your natural cognitive performance. Could CBD be helpful in this capacity? We’ll explore the possibilities shortly. First, let’s cover a vital wellness disclaimer.
Your Brain Needs a Balanced Diet and Healthy Lifestyle
While taking certain substances may potentially influence your cognitive performance in the short term, no food supplement can compensate for inadequate nutrition and an unhealthy lifestyle. As an organ, your brain represents a small fraction of your total body weight, yet it uses up to one-fifth of all the energy you consume in your diet. As you consider introducing supplements such as CBD, it’s also worth making sure that you exercise regularly and consume enough macro and micronutrients (such as calcium, fatty acids, and essential vitamins).
Some core habits that might help to support optimal brain functioning include:
- Adequate hydration (approximately eight glasses of water per day)
- Hemp seed oil (a well-balanced and vegan source of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids)
- Mindfulness meditation (even for as little as five minutes per day)
- Reading
- Sleeping enough (roughly 7-8 hours per night)
So far in this article, we’ve learned that cognition is a collection of diverse mental processes that impact how we think, feel, and make decisions. While our minds naturally change as we mature, we may also want to devote extra care to our memory, attention, learning, and reasoning skills. Nootropics (or ‘cognitive boosters’) are trending substances nowadays, but it may be best to opt for natural extracts rather than synthetic drugs. Also, beware of companies that attempt to avoid the facts and promote their products as “genius in a bottle”.
Alongside a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, you may wish to try cannabis-inspired wellness supplements such as CBD. In the rest of this text, we’ve compiled some helpful information from reliable sources to help you make up your mind.
Chances are, your cognition is already telling you to dismiss cannabis as an illegal drug, but could you have a cognitive bias where CBD is concerned? By the end of this article, you may find yourself viewing this cannabis-derived substance in a whole new light. Without further ado, let’s explore one of nature’s most thought-provoking compounds.
Cannabis vs CBD
Cannabis is an extensive family of green and fast-growing plants that fall into three main species: Indica, Ruderalis, and Sativa. As a signature cannabis compound with anecdotally calming effects, CBD is present to some extent in the leaves, stems, and flowers of all cannabis plants. The same can be said for another famous cannabinoid – the psychoactive and potentially intoxicating THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). As we reiterated earlier, intoxicating substances can impair your senses and thinking when consumed in sufficient quantities. THC is certainly not an ideal candidate for a ‘cognition booster’ – not to mention it’s a controlled substance!
While cannabis plants contain hundreds of potentially beneficial plant compounds (such as terpenes, flavonoids, and diverse cannabinoids), some people automatically assume that all cannabis is “weed”. While this label may apply to intoxicating varieties, hemp is a unique and low-THC subspecies of cannabis. As an expertly developed product of hemp, CBD cannot get you “high”. It might even offer some beneficial cognitive effects.
Is CBD Legal?
Using illegal forms of cannabis often leads to severe consequences, but should CBD weigh down on your conscience? The answer to this question depends on the policies upheld where you live, so it’s vital to check with national laws before making any purchases or commitments. According to UK law, CBD is an acceptable substance – so long as authorities can trace it back to licenced hemp crops, and it contains no more than 0.2% THC per product. Under similar conditions, CBD is also legal throughout most of the European Union and in many other countries. You can eliminate all traces of doubt (and excess THC) by choosing a premium CBD brand with a Certificate of Analysis (COA).
What is CBD Oil (Hemp Oil)?
By far one of the most popular product categories on the market, CBD oil is a combination of CBD extract and base oil (for example, olive oil). It’s available in different concentrations and ‘spectrums’ that indicate its chemical makeup and potential potency. While manufacturers generally develop CBD oil for sublingual use (under the tongue), it also forms the foundation for a diverse range of other products – from CBD gummies to cosmetics. Aside from vaping, infused oil is the quickest method of CBD consumption, and the membranes in your mouth may begin to absorb the extract in as few as fifteen minutes.
Potential Benefits of CBD Oil
Why do people use cannabis-derived products such as CBD oil? Anecdotal reports suggest that many users experiment with CBD in an attempt to influence a broad range of common wellness issues. According to self-perceived success stories from the general public, CBD might impact some of the symptoms we associate with headaches, mental health, inflammation, and more. While customer reviews are helpful, they are rarely impartial – especially since CBD has gained such a loyal following. Therefore, we need to weigh in on objective research.
So far, researchers haven’t presented any concrete conclusions regarding CBD oil and its possible benefits. However, emerging studies do make some fascinating suggestions.
For example, preliminary research indicates that consuming CBD oil may potentially:
- Impact your body’s regulatory processes via your endocannabinoid system (ECS)
- Reduce some symptoms of inflammation
- Offer a possible ‘feel-good’ effect and decrease some signs of mood disorders
- Reduce some symptoms of pain
- Improve the quality of your sleep
Now that we’ve appreciated some familiar anecdotes and generalised research theories, let’s focus on cognition.
CBD and Your Brain
As we contemplate possible CBD effects on brain performance and review some research findings, it’s essential to keep in mind that CBD is still a relatively ‘new’ substance. While it was first extracted and isolated in the 1940s by a chemist named Roger Adams, recent years have triggered a new surge of interest – opening up a world of possibilities for scientists to navigate. As we wait for conclusive evidence to emerge, current studies present some intriguing ideas. In this section, we’ll look at six main observations.
The ECS is an advanced cell-signalling network that you can think of as an extension of your central nervous system. It helps to regulate your sleep, mood, memory, and many other vital functions. As part of this arrangement, information is continually relayed throughout our bodies and brains via nerve fibres, endocannabinoids (such as Anandamide), receptors, and enzymes. Since CBD molecules resemble the endocannabinoids that our bodies naturally produce, some experts suggest that CBD might supplement us with additional cannabinoids, perhaps influencing our ECS’s performance.
Some studies (such as a 2018 review of phytocannabinoids) indicate that CBD may potentially:
- Interact with cannabinoid receptors to affect the interpretation of pain signals
- Impact some of the mechanisms in our brains
- Influence how we process memories, motivation, and rewards
- Slow down the rate at which natural ‘feel-good’ enzymes are broken down
- Affect our hormone levels – particularly serotonin (the ‘happy’ hormone)
By these processes alone, CBD may potentially play a role in how we respond to signals, think and perceive our wellbeing. While the ECS is still something of a mystery, we cannot downplay its value. With this being said, let’s explore how CBD might purportedly impact cognition at a structural level.
According to a 2018 Australian study, CBD molecules may potentially impact our brains’ hippocampus region (contributing to memory and learning). Like most of the brain, this area is ‘plastic’ – which means it is naturally adaptive to various forms of damage over time. Reviewing multiple MRI scans taken over ten weeks, researchers have connected CBD use with some natural neurological processes associated with the regeneration of hippocampal cells. Within this dynamic, new cells may be ‘born’ and some formerly restricted structural activities restored. These observations indicate that CBD might possibly influence some of the integral structures that contribute to our cognitive functioning. Now is an excellent time to appreciate the role of BDNF and how it fits into this discussion.
What is Brain-Derived-Neurotrophic-Factor (BDNF)? It sounds incredibly complex, but in essence, it’s an essential protein found in your brain and spinal cord. BDNF supports the growth, repair, and general maintenance of neurons (the ‘messenger’ cells). Since it’s involved with your mind’s development at a cellular level, it also impacts the impulses and signals exchanged between your nervous system and the different parts of your brain. This protein may be particularly relevant to your amygdala and mPFC (the ‘decision-making’ region).
While factors such as stress and a lack of sleep can cause your BDNF levels to dip, CBD might just have the opposite effect. A recent rodent study exploring the cognitive potential of CBD suggests that cannabidiol may potentially trigger an increase in BDNF production. Researchers have also observed that CBD use might affect some of the brain regions associated with symptoms of depression.
Hyperarousal is a chronic stress response that can send your body and mind into overdrive by adopting “fight-or-flight” mode in otherwise safe and innocent situations. It’s a reasonably common issue that can impact your ability to think, interpret cues, and sleep soundly. Hyperarousal is also one of the primary symptoms of Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) – a mental illness triggered by highly stressful events and traumatic memories.
CBD definitely can’t “cure” conditions like PTSD. However, researchers are questioning whether it may affect our stress hormone levels and impact anxiety and insomnia symptoms. In a 2019 study involving eleven PTSD patients, researchers indicated that CBD consumption might potentially impact some symptoms of sleep-loss, hyperarousal, and intrusive memories. Up to 91% of the participants in this study felt that their self-perceived wellbeing had improved.
According to a recent Italian study, major depression may result in the temporary loss of ‘higher mental function’ (language, perception, memory, and thinking). These symptoms may potentially make it more difficult for people to process the practical actions and decisions they encounter in day-to-day life. Depending on the amount of time that the depression persists, it may also trigger brain inflammation, cell damage, and even reduced functionality.
CBD should not be your first port of call when you feel depressed, but it might potentially be a helpful self-care method. While conclusions have yet to be confirmed, various human and animal studies suggest that CBD may possibly impact some symptoms of depression. It might also interact with your 5-HT1A neuro-receptor – which processes ‘happy’ hormones.
Many online articles explore popular themes such as ‘CBD for Alzheimer’s’, but is this topic valid from a scientific perspective? As neurodegenerative diseases continue to impact increasing numbers of people each year, public curiosity is understandable. Scientists have suggested that these issues often involve abnormal protein buildup, neural inflammation, and oxidative stress. While there is no evidence to suggest that CBD is a suitable “treatment” or “remedy” for any disease or illness, it might impact how you experience some uncomfortable symptoms of cognitive decline.
Emerging studies – including a 2017 review of potential therapeutic properties – suggest that CBD may possibly affect cognitive structures over time by:
- Impacting reactive gliosis (scarring in the brain and nervous system)
- Reducing some symptoms of brain inflammation
- Offering some possible antioxidant properties (impacting oxidative stress)
- Potentially influencing some neurodegenerative processes
It’s too early to tell where these possibilities may lead, but so far, many researchers consider CBD an exciting and potentially promising supplement – especially where our brains are concerned.
Cognitive Performance and CBD Consumption
So far, we’ve examined some of the chemical and structural properties of CBD and its potential to influence cognition. With a relatively low risk of unwanted side-effects, this natural substance may possibly help you to feel ‘sharper’ and more prepared on a day-to-day basis. On top of this, you may find it a helpful supplement to take before a study-session, important meeting, or even an athletic event. Let’s take a brief moment to appreciate some of your everyday cognitive skills that might potentially be impacted by CBD consumption.
Focus and Memory
Focus, or sustained attention, is a crucial cognitive function that enables us to concentrate on the task at hand and resist distractions. People have certainly been paying a lot of attention to trending CBD products in recent years, but can CBD consumption influence your attention span? One preliminary study suggests that it might impact how you shift and control your attention.
While memory and focus are separate processes, it is no surprise that we often try to concentrate on essential details to increase our chances of remembering them.
What is memory? In a nutshell, it’s our brain’s way of organising, storing, and retrieving information. According to a recent study, CBD may potentially influence our glutamate-GABA systems – which may play a vital role in the cell-signalling processes involved in memory.
Logic and Learning
Sometimes, logic and learning go hand-in-hand. When we exercise reason, we’re using strict criteria to assess the validity of the information we encounter while learning. Cognitive skills such as pattern recognition, category formation, and multi-tasking ability often contribute to the conclusions we reach and the judgements we make. According to a 2021 literature review, CBD consumption may potentially impact some of the brain’s functional networks – possibly including those in the frontal lobe region (contributing to thinking-and-reasoning).
Problem-solving is one of the most sought-after skills in the modern workplace and something we’d all like to get better at. Some of us may fantasise about completing a Rubik’s Cube in record time, while others seek to fix practical problems or navigate complex interpersonal dynamics. Cognitive flexibility is one of the faculties we use to entertain diverse possibilities and assess situations from different viewpoints. While CBD won’t solve all your problems, studies suggest that it may possibly impact cerebral blood flow. This may increase the oxygen levels in your brain and affect your overall cognitive performance.
In this text, we’ve defined cognition as a collection of advanced mental processes dedicated to acquiring, interpreting, and applying information. Since there is an abundance of data available to us at all times, our minds often create ‘shortcuts’ in the form of cognitive biases. While our brains naturally change over time, factors such as ageing, stress, mental health challenges, and psychotropic substances can impair our thinking-and-reasoning skills.
CBD is a non-intoxicating substance found in the hemp subspecies of Cannabis Sativa. Studies suggest that it may potentially impact some of the natural growth and repair processes that take place in your brain. Furthermore, it might help to reduce some of the common symptoms that otherwise interfere with everyday thinking and decision-making (such as sleep disturbances and anxiety).
From what we know so far, CBD may possibly offer some ‘nootropic’ benefits – potentially helping to influence your cognitive performance in a relatively low-risk way. You may also find that it allows you to feel more prepared as you take a proactive step towards better self-care: whether you’re a student, athlete, professional, or retiree.
Anastasiia Myronenko
Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.