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...

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.

An Overview of Psychoactive Drugs

An Overview of Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive drugs impact brain function, influencing perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior. These substances are grouped based on their effects and the mechanisms by which they act.
Stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine enhance brain activity, leading to increased alertness, attention, and energy. These drugs typically raise heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. While they can induce feelings of euphoria, their misuse can result in severe health...

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Hydration, mood, and cognition in primary school aged children in the United Kingdom.

Physiology & behavior·2025

Same author

'Zombie drugs': Dehumanising news frames and public stigma towards people who use drugs.

The International journal on drug policy·2025

Same author

'Nesting networks': Women's experiences of social network support in high-risk pregnancy.

Midwifery·2023

Same author

Evaluating phytochemical and microbial contributions to atrazine degradation.

Journal of environmental management·2022

Same author

INTEND II randomized clinical trial of intraoperative duct endoscopy in pathological nipple discharge.

The British journal of surgery·2018

Same author

Calcified structures associated with human skeletal remains: Possible atherosclerosis affecting the population buried at Amara West, Sudan (1300-800BC).

International journal of paleopathology·2018

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Published on: March 12, 2020

ERP evidence suggests executive dysfunction in ecstasy polydrug users.

C A Roberts¹, S H Fairclough, J E Fisk

¹School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, LJMU, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom St, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK.

Psychopharmacology

|March 28, 2013

Summary

Ecstasy users show altered brain activity in executive functions, specifically in the N2 component of event-related potentials, despite no behavioral changes. This suggests underlying cognitive differences in ecstasy-polydrug users.

More Related Videos

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

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

Published on: January 22, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Published on: March 12, 2020

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

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

Published on: January 22, 2016

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychology
Cognitive Science

Background:

Previous research indicates executive function deficits in ecstasy users, but findings are inconsistent.
Executive functions, including semantic memory access, are crucial for cognitive processing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate behavioral and electrophysiological measures of executive function in ecstasy users.
To clarify the impact of ecstasy use on cognitive processes.

Main Methods:

Recruited 60 participants: 20 ecstasy-polydrug users, 20 non-ecstasy-polydrug users, and 20 drug-naïve controls.
Administered questionnaires on drug use, sleep, intelligence, and mood.
Recorded 64-channel electroencephalography (EEG) during a semantic retrieval task.

Main Results:

No significant differences in behavioral performance on the semantic retrieval task were found between groups.
Significant differences were observed in the N2 component of event-related potentials (ERPs).
Ecstasy users exhibited greater negativity in the N2 component at occipito-parietal electrodes compared to controls.

Conclusions:

Despite intact behavioral performance, altered N2 component suggests abnormal executive functioning in ecstasy-polydrug users.
Electrophysiological measures reveal subtle cognitive differences not apparent in behavioral tasks.
Findings highlight the utility of EEG in detecting neurophysiological changes associated with substance use.