Brain structure Effect of marijuana on brain region Amygdala Can alter emotional states Basal ganglia Reduces motor activity; users may move less Cerebellum Can impair coordination Cortex May alter complex thinking, making it hard to pay attention or switch quickly between two tasks Hippocampus Memory center becomes less efficient, making it harder to learn and remember new information Hypothalamus Stimulates appetite, giving marijuana users the well-known “munchies” effect Nucleus accumbens Can make users want to use again by targeting this area, which is part of the brain’s reward system Source: K.