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Kai‐uwe Kühn

University of Bonn

2 papers in the library · 139 citations · publishing 2006-2013

Papers

Memory deficits in abstinent MDMA (ecstasy) users: neuropsychological evidence of frontal dysfunction

Journal of Psychopharmacology March 30, 2006 Boris B. Quednow, Frank Jessen, Kai‐uwe Kühn et al. 105 citations

Chronic MDMA (ecstasy) use is linked to long-term serotonin depletion and memory deficits. Nineteen male abstinent MDMA users, 19 male abstinent cannabis users, and 19 male drug-naive controls took a German version of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. MDMA users showed widespread verbal memory deficits—in learning, consolidation, recall, and recognition—compared to both cannabis users and controls, while cannabis users performed similarly to controls. MDMA users also had worse recall consistency and strong retroactive interference, measures tied to frontal lobe function. Memory performance correlated with the amount of MDMA taken. The findings suggest MDMA-related memory deficits involve frontal cortex dysfunction, not just temporal or hippocampal damage.

DOI: 10.1177/0269881106061200 MDMA Ecstasy Serotonergic Cannabis +2

Verbal Memory Deficits Are Correlated with Prefrontal Hypometabolism in 18FDG PET of Recreational MDMA Users

PLoS ONE April 9, 2013 Oliver G. Bosch, Michael Wagner, Frank Jessen et al. 34 citations

Recreational users of MDMA show verbal learning and recall deficits that are linked to reduced glucose metabolism in the prefrontal and parietal cortex, and word recognition difficulties are additionally associated with reduced metabolism in the mediotemporal region. These findings indicate that memory problems in MDMA users result from combined dysfunction across frontal, parietal, and mediotemporal brain areas.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061234 MDMA Ecstasy Psychology Hippocampus +5