Differential effects of MDMA and methylphenidate on social cognition
Yasmin Schmid, Cédric M. Hysek, Linda D. Simmler, Molly J. Crockett, Boris B. Quednow, Matthias E. Liechti
Journal of Psychopharmacology July 22, 2014 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114542454 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA low dose of MDMA (75 mg) enhanced emotional empathy for positive emotional situations and reduced recognition of sad faces, but did not affect cognitive empathy, social cognitive inferences, or moral judgment. Methylphenidate (40 mg) had no effects on emotional processing, empathy, or mental perspective-taking. MDMA increased subjective feelings of closeness, openness, and trust, along with plasma oxytocin and prolactin levels. These social-cognitive effects likely contribute to MDMA's popularity as a party drug.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Healthy subjects |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Empathy Methylphenidate Social cognition |
| Citations | 154 |
| Key finding | MDMA enhanced emotional empathy for positive emotions and reduced sad face recognition, while methylphenidate had no such effects. |
Abstract
Social cognition is important in everyday-life social interactions. The social cognitive effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) and methylphenidate (both used for neuroenhancement and as party drugs) are largely unknown. We investigated the acute effects of MDMA (75 mg), methylphenidate (40 mg) and placebo using the Facial Emotion Recognition Task, Multifaceted Empathy Test, Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition, Social Value Orientation Test and the Moral Judgment Task in a cross-over study in 30 healthy subjects. Additionally, subjective, autonomic, pharmacokinetic, endocrine and adverse drug effects were measured. MDMA enhanced emotional empathy for positive emotionally charged situations in the MET and tended to reduce the recognition of sad faces in the Facial Emotion Recognition Task. MDMA had no effects on cognitive empathy in the Multifaceted Empathy Test or social cognitive inferences in the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition. MDMA produced subjective ‘empathogenic’ effects, such as drug liking, closeness to others, openness and trust. In contrast, methylphenidate lacked such subjective effects and did not alter emotional processing, empathy or mental perspective-taking. MDMA but not methylphenidate increased the plasma levels of oxytocin and prolactin. None of the drugs influenced moral judgment. Effects on emotion recognition and emotional empathy were evident at a low dose of MDMA and likely contribute to the popularity of the drug.