3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy)-Induced Learning and Memory Impairments Depend on the Age of Exposure during Early Development
Journal of Neuroscience May 1, 2001 Harry W. Broening, Laronda L. Morford, Sandra L. Inman-Wood et al. 141 citations
MDMA exposure during a period equivalent to the late human third trimester causes lasting learning and memory impairments in rats, while exposure during the early third trimester has little effect. Rats given MDMA on days 11–20 after birth showed dose-related difficulties in sequential learning and spatial learning and memory, but not in swimming or cued learning. Body weight temporarily dropped but recovered to 90–95% of controls. Brain chemical changes were small and did not explain the learning deficits. These findings suggest MDMA may pose a previously unrecognized risk to the developing brain.