Shrestha Chaturvedi / Mathematics / Faculty Mentor: Pedro Maia
“Cannabis affects the brain endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is involved in regulating pain control, learning and memory, emotional processing, sleep, and eating. Administering cannabinoids promotes sleep through the activation of cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors. With ongoing developments in cannabis legalization in the U.S. (as of February/2024, 24 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use), it becomes increasingly important to understand the impact of cannabis consumption on sleep quality.
At present, this impact is not very well understood. The inconsistencies in literature regarding the relationship between cannabis use and sleep, and lack of empirical studies on their temporal relationship, calls for an in-depth robust data-dynamical characterization.
To address this gap, we employ a model initially developed for studying sleep dynamics in rats, converting it into deterministic Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) using the Fokker-Planck equations. Unlike traditional empirical approaches, we introduce an automated method for estimating parameters, enhancing the precision and reliability of our analysis. Our study aims to provide a robust, data-driven dynamical characterization of sleep stages, comparing the obtained dynamics between cannabis users and non-users. Through this approach, we seek to contribute valuable insights into the complex interplay between cannabis consumption and sleep, fostering a deeper understanding of the impact on sleep architecture.”
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