Mood state and brain electric activity in Ecstasy users
Alex Gamma, Edi Frei, Dietrich Lehmann, Roberto D. Pascual‐marqui, Daniel Hell, Franz X. Vollenweider
Neuroreport January 1, 2000 DOI: 10.1097/00001756-200001170-00031 via OpenAlex
Summary
People who regularly use Ecstasy show altered brain activity patterns, including increased theta, alpha, and beta power across the scalp, particularly with eyes open, as measured by EEG and brain tomography. They also report higher levels of state depressiveness, emotional excitability, and a trend toward increased state anxiety compared to non-users. These differences could stem from regular Ecstasy or other illicit drug use, or may have existed before drug use began.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 29 |
| Population | Ecstasy users and Ecstasy-naive controls |
| Topics | Anxiety MDMA |
| Keywords | Mood Electroencephalography Scalp |
| Citations | 81 |
| Key finding | Ecstasy users exhibited global increases in theta, alpha 1, and beta 2/3 power during eyes open, along with higher state depressiveness and emotional excitability. |
Abstract
Resting EEG during open and closed eyes and subsequent mood ratings were obtained from 15 Ecstasy users and 14 Ecstasy-naive controls. Absolute spectral power on the scalp, and the three-dimensional, intracerebral distribution of neuroelectric activity using low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) were computed. LORETA revealed global increases of theta, alpha 1 and beta 2/3 power during eyes open in Ecstasy users, and spectral analyses revealed a right-posterior increase of alpha 2 power (confirmed by LORETA) and increased beta band activity during open eyes. Ecstasy users had higher levels of state depressiveness, emotional excitability and a trend-level increase in state anxiety. The observed differences may be related to regular exposure to Ecstasy or other illicit drugs, or may be pre-existing.