The Prosocial Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Controlled Studies in Humans and Laboratory Animals

Summary

MDMA (ecstasy) produces prosocial effects such as sociability and empathy, consistent with user reports. In rodents, MDMA increases passive prosocial behavior and social reward while reducing aggression, possibly through serotonin 1A receptor-mediated oxytocin release interacting with vasopressin receptor 1A. In humans, MDMA raises plasma oxytocin, fosters feelings of social affiliation, reduces recognition of negative facial expressions (cognitive empathy), blunts responses to social rejection, and enhances responses to others' positive emotions (emotional empathy) while increasing social approach. These neurobiologically complex prosocial effects likely motivate recreational ecstasy use.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Users of ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) report prosocial effects such as sociability and empathy. Supporting these apparently unique social effects, data from controlled laboratory studies indicate that MDMA alters social feelings, information processing, and behavior in humans, and social behavior in rodents. Here, we review this growing body of evidence. In rodents, MDMA increases passive prosocial behavior (adjacent lying) and social reward while decreasing aggression, effects that may involve serotonin 1A receptor mediated oxytocin release interacting with vasopressin receptor 1A. In humans, MDMA increases plasma oxytocin and produces feelings of social affiliation. It decreases identification of negative facial expressions (cognitive empathy) and blunts responses to social rejection, while enhancing responses to others’ positive emotions (emotional empathy) and increasing social approach. Thus, consistent with drug folklore, laboratory administration of MDMA robustly alters social processing in humans and increases social approach in humans and animals. Effects are consistent with increased sociability, with mixed evidence about enhanced empathy. These neurobiologically-complex prosocial effects likely motivate recreational ecstasy use.