Dose-effect analysis of 6-APB ("Benzofury") on fear memory, motor behavior, and reward.
Psychopharmacology July 14, 2026 Kyla M Whitelock, Kaitlin R Van Alstyne, Liam J Conaboy et al.
6-APB, a recreational drug similar to MDMA, produces effects at very low doses (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg) in mice, while impairing short-term fear memory and long-term context memory at 5 mg/kg. It also causes modest locomotor sensitization and may produce addiction. Reduced shock reactivity appears due to ataxia rather than analgesia. The behavioral profile broadly resembles MDMA, but amnesic effects emerge at higher doses than MDMA, and there is a larger gap between potential therapeutic doses and doses causing cognitive deficits. These findings suggest 6-APB may not be a low-risk therapeutic alternative to MDMA.