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.