MDMA enhances positive affective responses to social feedback.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) March 1, 2024 Anya K Bershad, David T Hsu, Harriet de Wit 9 citations
MDMA, a compound being studied for treating PTSD, increases positive feelings in response to social feedback, such as receiving likes or rejections in a dating-app-like task. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 36 healthy adults aged 18-40, a high dose of MDMA (1.5 mg/kg) boosted positive affective responses to both positive and negative social feedback, compared to placebo and methamphetamine. This suggests MDMA may enhance social connection by making social interactions feel more rewarding, which could explain its therapeutic benefits. Further research is needed to test these effects in clinical populations and with different types of social feedback.