Ecstasy (MDMA) and memory function: a meta‐analytic update

A meta-analysis of 26 studies found that recreational ecstasy use is associated with moderate to large impairments in memory. Short-term memory showed a moderate deficit, while long-term memory showed a large deficit; the difference between these two types was not significant. Verbal memory was strongly impaired, significantly more than visual memory, which showed only a small impairment. Visual memory problems may be partly due to concurrent cannabis use. The total number of ecstasy tablets consumed over a lifetime did not predict memory performance, suggesting that other factors may be more important.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract A meta‐analysis was conducted to examine the impact of recreational ecstasy use on short‐term memory (STM), long‐term memory (LTM), verbal and visual memory. We located 26 studies containing memory data for ecstasy and non‐ecstasy users from which effect sizes could be derived. The analyses provided measures of STM and LTM in 610 and 439 ecstasy users and revealed moderate‐to‐large effect sizes (Cohen's d ) of d = −0.63 and d = −0.87, respectively. The difference between STM versus LTM was non‐significant. The effect size for verbal memory was large ( d = −1.00) and significantly larger than the small effect size for visual memory ( d = −0.27). Indeed, our analyses indicate that visual memory may be affected more by concurrent cannabis use. Finally, we found that the total lifetime number of ecstasy tablets consumed did not significantly predict memory performance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.