The intriguing effects of ecstasy (MDMA) on cognitive function in mice subjected to a minimal traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Psychopharmacology April 1, 2011 Shahaf Edut, Vardit Rubovitch, Shaul Schreiber et al. 36 citations
A single dose of MDMA given to mice before a mild traumatic brain injury did not worsen cognitive deficits and instead appeared to improve visual and spatial memory. Mice that received MDMA before injury performed better on cognitive tests than injured mice without the drug. The drug reversed injury-related decreases in tyrosine hydroxylase, an enzyme important for dopamine production, which may explain the cognitive improvements. The IGF-1R signaling pathway was activated but was not the main cause of the benefit.