No Evidence that MDMA-Induced Enhancement of Emotional Empathy Is Related to Peripheral Oxytocin Levels or 5-HT1a Receptor Activation
PLoS ONE June 27, 2014 Kim P. C. Kuypers, Rafael de la Torre, Magı́ Farré et al. 88 citations
A single 75 mg dose of MDMA selectively enhances emotional empathy—the ability to share and understand others' feelings—without affecting cognitive empathy (understanding others' mental states), trust, or reciprocity in social interactions. This effect was not altered by adding pindolol, a drug that blocks the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor. Oxytocin nasal spray, a hormone often linked to social bonding, had no effect on any empathy or social interaction measure. Changes in emotional empathy were unrelated to oxytocin levels in the blood. The findings suggest that MDMA's empathy-enhancing effects do not depend on peripheral oxytocin and may instead involve other receptors such as serotonin 2A or vasopressin 1A.