Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
February 18, 2022
Sam Parnia, Stephen G. Post, Matthew T. Lee et al.
68 citations
Advances in stem cell research, neuroscience, and resuscitation science have enabled scientific insights into what happens to the human brain in relation to death. Brain cells are more resilient to anoxia than previously assumed, becoming irreversibly damaged over hours to days postmortem. Resuscitation science has restored life to millions after cardiac arrest, and survivors describe a universal set of recollections related to death. This review examines death, recalled experiences during cardiac arrest, post-intensive care syndrome, and related phenomena, discussing potential mechanisms, ethical implications, and methodological considerations. It also addresses controversies in studying consciousness and recalled experiences of cardiac arrest and death in comatose subjects to standardize future research.
Scientific Reports
September 22, 2023
Hanna Molla, Royce Lee, Sonja Lyubomirsky et al.
28 citations
Both MDMA and methamphetamine increase feelings of connectedness during casual conversations with an unfamiliar partner, and both drugs raise oxytocin levels. However, only after MDMA are oxytocin levels linked to feeling closer to the partner. The study involved 18 participants given MDMA or placebo and 19 given methamphetamine or placebo. These results reveal a new aspect of MDMA's pro-social effects and show that methamphetamine produces a similar behavioral effect, though through a different biological pathway.
PLoS ONE
October 25, 2021
Annie Regan, Seth Margolis, Harriet de Wit et al.
18 citations
MDMA produces a moderate-to-large increase in self-reported feelings of sociability—such as feeling loving, talkative, and friendly—according to a meta-analysis of 27 placebo-controlled studies involving 592 participants. The overall effect size was d = 0.86, indicating a substantial boost in sociability-related outcomes. This finding suggests MDMA could have powerful implications for social interactions and clinical settings, such as in psychotherapy. The analysis highlights the need for larger experimental studies and further investigation into the mechanisms linking MDMA to enhanced social connection.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
September 16, 2025
Ramona L. Martinez, Nina Radošić, Hanna Molla et al.
1 citation
MDMA increases feelings of trust in the social world beyond specific interaction partners in a lab setting. The findings align with user reports of generalized social well-being effects and suggest that MDMA may have clinical value from a social psychological perspective.