Scientific Animation: Downside of High
Created for Dreamfilm Productions, Ltd.,
CBC The Nature of Things
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Still image from scientific animation about the effects of cannabis on the brain. Created for a documentary film about marijuana induced psychosis due to increase activation of cannabinoid system and dopamine levels. This shot depicts the endocannabinoid system: activated dopaminergic neurons; dark cell is an inhibitory neuron suppressed by THC. ©2009 AXS Studio Inc.
The effects of cannabis on the brain from documentary film about marijuana induced psychosis due to increase activation of cannabinoid system and dopamine levels. Neurotransmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) VTA to the nucleus accumbens and then to the prefrontal cortex. ©2009 AXS Studio Inc. All rights reserved.
Still image from scientific animation about the effects of cannabis on the brain. Created for a documentary film about marijuana induced psychosis due to increase activation of cannabinoid system and dopamine levels. Dive in to a field of neurons to find the catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, which regulates dopamine levels in the brain. ©2009 AXS Studio Inc. All rights reserved.
Still image from scientific animation about the effects of cannabis on the brain. Created for a documentary film about marijuana induced psychosis due to increase activation of cannabinoid system and dopamine levels. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC binding inhibitory neuron terminal at synapse. ©2009 AXS Studio Inc. All rights reserved.
Still image from scientific animation about the effects of cannabis on the brain. Created for a documentary film about marijuana induced psychosis due to increase activation of cannabinoid system and dopamine levels. Neurotransmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) VTA to the nucleus accumbens and then to the prefrontal cortex. ©2009 AXS Studio Inc. All rights reserved.
The effects of cannabis on the brain from documentary film about marijuana induced psychosis due to increase activation of cannabinoid system and dopamine levels. Neurotransmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) VTA to the nucleus accumbens and then to the prefrontal cortex. ©2009 AXS Studio Inc. All rights reserved.
The project
This documentary explores the effects of cannabis on the teenage brain. AXS contributed scientific animations to explain marijuana induced psychosis due to increased activation of cannabinoid system and dopamine levels. We visualized the neural pathways affected by cannabis to help a lay audience understand the medical effects of THC on the brain. This included an innovative visualization of neurons firing in the prefrontal cortex.
Created for
Dreamfilm Productions, Ltd.,
CBC The Nature of Things
