Increased oxytocin concentrations and prosocial feelings in humans after ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) administration
Social Neuroscience June 25, 2009 Glenn Dumont, Fred C.g.j. Sweep, R. van der Steen et al. 238 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) causes a strong increase in blood oxytocin levels and enhances feelings of prosociality in healthy people. The changes in prosocial feelings are more closely tied to changes in oxytocin than to changes in MDMA concentration in the blood. This suggests that oxytocin release may be a key mechanism behind the drug's characteristic social effects.