Related Experiment Videos
Cognitive performance amongst recreational users of "ecstasy"
1Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Neurosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, UK. Jacqui.Rodgers@ncle.ac.uk
Psychopharmacology
|August 25, 2000
Summary
Recreational ecstasy and cannabis use impair verbal memory. Ecstasy users showed significant delayed memory deficits compared to controls, despite no perceived cognitive failures.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Previous research linked ecstasy use to memory impairment.
- The impact of concurrent cannabis use on these deficits was not well-studied.
- Both ecstasy and cannabis are independently associated with memory issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess memory and attention deficits in recreational ecstasy users.
- To investigate the effect of combined cannabis and ecstasy use on cognition.
- To compare subjective cognitive experiences with objective performance measures.
Main Methods:
- Three groups studied: ecstasy users, cannabis-only users, and controls.
- Cognitive tests included the Wechsler Memory Scale and reaction time tasks.
- Subjective cognitive function assessed via questionnaires.
Main Results:
- No group differences in reaction time, visual memory, or attention.
- Both ecstasy and cannabis users exhibited verbal memory impairments.
- Ecstasy users showed significantly worse delayed memory than cannabis and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Ecstasy use is associated with long-term neuropsychological effects, especially on delayed memory.
- Concomitant cannabis use may exacerbate memory impairments.
- Objective memory deficits were not reflected in users' subjective self-assessments.