give cannabinoids to nematodes causes the petite invertebrates to go on a wild feeding binge , just like people do when they ’ve had a few puffs of a joint . And like humans with themunchies , the miniature worms incline to binge only on the tasty snacks when they ’re stoned .

“ Cannabinoids make nematodes athirst for their favored food and less thirsty for their non - favored foods , ” explicate work author Shawn Lockery in astatement . “ Thus , the effect of cannabinoids in nematodes parallel the effect of marijuana on human appetency . ”

The study generator divulge the worms to a cannabinoid shout anandamide , which is produce naturally within the human physical structure and binds to the same receptor asTHC , the main psychoactive constituent of marijuana . Rather than raid the kitchen forhigh - calorie collation , though , the creature importantly increase their economic consumption of “ superior ” bacteria tense , while simultaneously eschew “ deficient ” food author .

Speaking to IFLScience , Lockery revealed that these findings “ came as a massive surprisal , coupled with joy because it helps us realise our station in the universe , or at least the animal universe . We ’re not so unlike in some unfathomed respects from these tiny animate being . ”

Of course , roundworm and humans are passing dissimilar in most other respect , which is unsurprising given that the evolutionary paths claim by the two coinage part ways over 500 million years ago . That being the shell , Lockery remarks that “ it is truly remarkable that the effects of cannabinoids on appetency are preserve through this length of evolutionary time . ”

Cannabinoid sign is in fact present in most animals , although the function of these atom and their chemical mechanism of action can deviate significantly from one species to another . In humans , anandamide and THC both bind to the so - yell cannabinoid 1 ( CB1 ) receptor , and the researchers found that dirt ball munchies are mediated by a nematode - specific cannabinoid sense organ visit NPR-19 .

However , when the study authors repeated their experiment using worms that had been genetically altered to express human CB1 receptor , they got the exact same issue . This confirm the similarity between the mechanisms underlie appetency changes following cannabinoid picture in humankind and nematode worm .

“ That ’s important because the cannabinoid system is believed to have unbelievable therapeutic potential , because it ’s in essentially all tissues in our soundbox , ” say Lockery . “ It affect appetite , but it also affects mood . ”

“ The fact that the human cannabinoid receptor gene is operative inC. elegansfood - choice experiments sets the level for speedy and cheap showing for drugs that aim a wide variety of proteins involved in cannabinoid signaling and metabolism , with unplumbed conditional relation for human health , ” he supply .

In the case of the worms , the activating of cannabinoid sense organ was found to alter the sensitiveness of food - detecting olfactory neurons , ultimately causing certain foods to sense more appealing while others became less attractive . While this mirrors the reported subjective force of tetrahydrocannabinol in people with the munchies , it ’s not yet vindicated ifcannabischanges the function of human olfactory neuron in the same way .

Lockery therefore take a firm stand that there is still room for further enquiry so as to solve some of the remaining riddles surrounding cannabinoid sign in both human beings and worm . His science laboratory is also in discussions about testing psychedelic drug such as psilocin on nematode worm .

“ Perhaps we can find a new set of law of similarity between humans and worms , now in the case of drugs that alter percept and psychological well - being , ” he says .

The written report is published in the journalCurrent Biology .