PULLMAN, WA. – (MyBellinghamNow.com) While the word “munchies” has long been a slang term for weed-related hunger, researchers hadn’t confirmed the behavior’s “why?” until now.

A new study found what increases appetite after consuming marijuana.

The Washington State University-led study found what neurons – when stimulated – contribute to the increase in appetite, and the discovery could pave the way to future therapies.

The study provided cannabis vapor to rodents and monitored their behavior and brain activity following inhalation.

Appetite disorders are not uncommon in cancer patients, and marijuana consumption has been an unofficial recommendation by doctors to assuage this and other side effects from treatment. Therapies for treating appetite disorders like anorexia use synthetic compounds to mimic cannabis’s effects, but these therapies have by-and-large been unsuccessful.

The future for the cannabis-based treatments is uncertain but the discovery will help refine what develops next.

To take a look at the study, you can visit Nature.com to read online or download the free pdf.