Understanding How Trait Negative Emotionality (NEM) Influences Social Connectedness and Responses to ± 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
University of Chicago June 6, 2026 Ruiyan Hu
Negative Emotionality (NEM), a tendency toward intense negative emotions and heightened reactivity, was examined in 30 healthy volunteers in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. NEM did not predict baseline friendliness or changes in social connectedness after a closeness-building procedure. Higher NEM showed a trend toward greater MDMA-induced peak friendliness change. In an exploratory model, NEM predicted MDMA-induced oxytocin release after accounting for sex. These preliminary findings suggest that individual differences in personality and sex may shape drug response, with implications for patient selection and dose optimization in MDMA-assisted therapy for conditions linked to elevated NEM.