Neuroimaging in Human MDMA (Ecstasy) Users
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences October 1, 2008 Ronald L. Cowan, Deanne M. Roberts, James M. Joers 26 citations
Millions of people worldwide have used MDMA recreationally, though the purity of Ecstasy sold as MDMA is uncertain. MDMA is a public health concern not because it commonly causes dependence, but because animal studies show it can produce long-lasting reductions in brain serotonin markers, particularly in fine-diameter axons from the dorsal raphe nucleus. Neuropsychological, neuroendocrine, and neuroimaging studies in human users suggest long-lasting brain function changes consistent with serotonin toxicity. A cortical model based on animal data helps design and interpret neuroimaging studies, but findings are controversial and often unreplicated across laboratories and modalities. This paper reviews existing evidence and proposes future research directions.