Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Neurochemical Endpoints to Inform Early-Stage Trials of Spinocerebellar Ataxia 2 and 3 in a Multisite Setting.

Annals of clinical and translational neurology·2026

Same author

Identification of Biological Subtypes of Friedreich Ataxia with Structural MRI-based Machine Learning.

Radiology·2026

Same author

Value of MRI Outcomes for Preventive and Early-Stage Trials in Spinocerebellar Ataxias 1 and 3.

Annals of clinical and translational neurology·2026

Same author

Sex Differences in Pain Sensitivity Among Cognitively Healthy Older Adults.

Biological research for nursing·2026

Same author

<sup>1</sup>H-MR spectroscopy biomarkers are associated with plasma-derived biomarkers of amyloid-β and tau in the early phase of AD continuum.

Neurobiology of aging·2025

Same author

Body size and intracranial volume interact with the structure of the central nervous system: A multi-center in vivo neuroimaging study.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2025

Same journal

Multiomics Profiling During Autoimmune Demyelination Highlights a Complex Regulatory Role for Ataxin-1 in B Cells.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2026

Same journal

Global Trends in Light Pollution and Their Relationship With Socioeconomic Factors.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2026

Same journal

Wired for Corruption: Inter-Brain Synchrony Encodes Bribery-Related Value Information and Predicts Bribery Agreement.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2026

Same journal

LM-YOLO: A Lightweight Multi-Scale Enhanced Model for Forest Smoke Detection Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2026

Same journal

Polyrhythm Perception and Production: A Scoping Review.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2026

Same journal

DARTS-CNN-BiLSTM: Intelligent Fault Diagnosis for Computer Numerical Control Machine Tool Feed System.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Neuroimaging in human MDMA (Ecstasy) users.

Ronald L Cowan¹, Deanne M Roberts, James M Joers

¹Psychiatric Neuroimaging Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Ronald.l.cowan@vanderbilt.edu

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|November 11, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

MDMA (3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) may cause long-lasting serotonin (5-HT) brain damage in users. Research is needed to understand these effects and guide future neuroimaging studies on MDMA users.

More Related Videos

Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome

Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome

Published on: September 23, 2015

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Published on: September 8, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome

Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome

Published on: September 23, 2015

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Published on: September 8, 2021

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychopharmacology
Neuroimaging

Background:

MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy, is a popular recreational drug with public health implications.
Concerns exist regarding MDMA's potential for long-lasting reduction in brain serotonin (5-HT) markers, particularly affecting fine-diameter axons.
Understanding MDMA's neurotoxic effects is crucial due to its widespread use and the critical role of 5-HT in brain function.

Purpose of the Study:

To review existing findings on MDMA's effects on human brain function.
To propose a cortical model for interpreting neuroimaging studies in MDMA users.
To identify directions for future research on MDMA-induced neurotoxicity.

Main Methods:

Review of neuropsychological, neuroendocrine, and neuroimaging studies in human MDMA users.
Analysis of data from animal models to inform human studies.
Development of a cortical model to contextualize neuroimaging findings.

Main Results:

Neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies suggest long-lasting changes in human MDMA users consistent with 5-HT toxicity.
Animal models provide testable hypotheses for MDMA's effects on the human brain.
Existing neuroimaging findings are partially supported by the proposed cortical model, but inconsistencies and lack of replication exist.

Conclusions:

Human MDMA users may exhibit long-lasting functional brain changes indicative of serotonin toxicity.
A cortical model aids in interpreting neuroimaging data, though further research and replication are necessary.
Future research should focus on clarifying MDMA's neurotoxic effects and validating findings across different methodologies.