Longitudinal Examination of Learning and Memory in Rats Following Adolescent Exposure to 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or 5-Methoxy-N,N-Diisopropyltryptamine
Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science January 1, 2017 David M. Compton, Kerri L. Dietrich, Peniel Esquivel et al. 2 citations
Repeated exposure to MDMA or the drug Foxy during mid-adolescence in rats led to lasting cognitive impairments that persisted into adulthood, even though no changes in serotonin or dopamine levels were detected in the brain. MDMA-treated rats showed the most significant deficits, particularly in adapting to changing task demands on water maze tests, while a step-down passive avoidance task also revealed impairments. These findings indicate that adolescent use of these drugs can cause long-term neurocognitive problems that continue long after drug exposure ends, without measurable alterations in key neurotransmitter systems. The study highlights the need for further research into the physiological and neurochemical mechanisms behind these persistent effects.