Neural correlates of MDMA (“Ecstasy”)-induced social interaction in rats
Social Neuroscience June 21, 2008 Murray R. Thompson, Glenn E. Hunt, Iain S. Mcgregor 48 citations
MDMA (Ecstasy) produces feelings of love and closeness in humans and prosocial effects in animals. In male Wistar rats, a moderate dose (5 mg/kg) increased social interaction, specifically general investigation of other rats while decreasing anogenital sniffing. Analysis of neural activation across 39 brain regions showed that MDMA given in a social context caused considerably greater brain activation than the same dose given to solitary rats. Six brain regions—including the caudate-putamen, medial preoptic area, paraventricular thalamic nucleus, central amygdala, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, and medial amygdala—showed augmented activation in the social-MDMA group. The nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, and periaqueductal grey were activated only when MDMA was combined with social interaction. These findings suggest MDMA modulates neural circuits regulating affiliative behavior, possibly via oxytocin.