Human Ecstasy use is associated with increased cortical excitability: an fMRI study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Psychopharmacology

Background:

• 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/Ecstasy) is a popular recreational drug associated with neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric impairments.
• Previous research suggests MDMA may cause serotonin neurotoxicity, but functional neuroimaging findings in human users are inconsistent.
• The visual system may offer insights into the broader cortical and subcortical neurophysiological effects of MDMA use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of long-term recreational MDMA use on visual system neurophysiology using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• To compare brain activation patterns in the visual system between abstinent MDMA users and non-user controls.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 3 Tesla fMRI during visual stimulation in 20 long-abstinent MDMA users (abstinence > 1 year) and 20 controls.
• Measured blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal intensity and spatial extent of activation in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and Brodmann Areas (BA) 17 and 18.
• Correlated lifetime quantity of MDMA use with BOLD signal intensity and activation extent.

Main Results:

• Lifetime MDMA quantity positively correlated with BOLD signal intensity in bilateral LGN, BA 17, and BA 18.
• A positive correlation was found between lifetime MDMA use and the spatial extent of activation in BA 17 and BA 18.
• No significant group differences in activation were observed, but heaviest MDMA users exhibited greater spatial activation extent in BA 17 and BA 18 compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Recreational MDMA use may lead to long-lasting increases in cortical excitability, potentially due to serotonin neurotoxicity.
• Increased cortical excitability in the visual system could serve as a biomarker for MDMA-induced serotonin neurotoxicity.
• Findings suggest persistent neurophysiological alterations in the visual cortex following chronic MDMA exposure.