Memory impairment suggests hippocampal dysfunction in abstinent ecstasy users

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry 2003-08, Vol.27 (5), p.819-827
• Main Authors: Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Euphrosyne, Thimm, Bastian, Rezk, Markus, Hensen, Gernot, Daumann, Joerg
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Cognition; Cognition Disorders - chemically induced; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Ecstasy; Female; Hippocampus; Hippocampus - drug effects; Hippocampus - physiology; Humans; Male; MDMA; Memory; Memory Disorders - chemically induced; Memory Disorders - psychology; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine - adverse effects; Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data; Neurotoxicity; Serotonin; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-5846(03)00114-3

Previous studies have consistently shown impairments of memory and learning in regular users of the neurotoxic drug ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]). In addition, deficits in working memory, planning ability and central executive control, as well as high cognitive impulsivity, were also reported in some studies. Hence, the memory decrements may be secondary due to other cognitive failures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the nature of the cognitive deficits of ecstasy users. Tests of memory, working memory, central executive function and cognitive impulsivity were administered to 60 currently abstinent ecstasy users and to 30 nonusers. Heavy ecstasy users ( n=30, lifetime dose ≥80 ecstasy tablets) had lower memory performance than both nonusers and moderate users ( n=30, lifetime dose