Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Altered States of Awareness01:06

Altered States of Awareness

1.3K
Altered states of consciousness represent significant deviations from one's normal mental state. These deviations can range from subtle changes in awareness to profound transformations in perception, thought processes, and sensory experiences. Altered states of consciousness can be triggered by various factors, including drug use, meditation, hypnosis, illness, or even intense fatigue.
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain...
1.3K
CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents01:22

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

913
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...
913

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Psilocybin therapy for adult females with anorexia nervosa: pilot study.

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·2026
Same author

How to set up a psychedelic study: Unique considerations for research involving human participants.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2026
Same author

Detecting neuroplastic effects induced by ketamine in healthy human subjects: A multimodal approach.

Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism·2026
Same author

Recent advances in PET measures of brain 5-HT release.

Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism·2026
Same author

Evaluation of the impact of low activity imaging in [<sup>11</sup>C]-(+)-PHNO and [<sup>11</sup>C]UCB-J PET-MR scans.

EJNMMI physics·2026
Same author

A short-acting psychedelic intervention for major depressive disorder: a phase IIa randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Nature medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

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

Published on: August 18, 2020

8.0K

Altered Insula Connectivity under MDMA.

Ishan C Walpola1, Timothy Nest1, Leor Roseman2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
|February 15, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) alters brain connectivity, specifically reducing functional connectivity in the right insula/salience network. This brain change is linked to trait anxiety and altered bodily sensations experienced under MDMA.

More Related Videos

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy
08:23

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy

Published on: November 13, 2016

11.9K
In vivo Positron Emission Tomography to Reveal Activity Patterns Induced by Deep Brain Stimulation in Rats
09:36

In vivo Positron Emission Tomography to Reveal Activity Patterns Induced by Deep Brain Stimulation in Rats

Published on: March 23, 2022

2.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

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

Published on: August 18, 2020

8.0K
A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy
08:23

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy

Published on: November 13, 2016

11.9K
In vivo Positron Emission Tomography to Reveal Activity Patterns Induced by Deep Brain Stimulation in Rats
09:36

In vivo Positron Emission Tomography to Reveal Activity Patterns Induced by Deep Brain Stimulation in Rats

Published on: March 23, 2022

2.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Brain Imaging

Background:

  • 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is known for its mood- and social-enhancing effects, attributed to its action as a monoamine-releaser, particularly serotonin.
  • The precise neurobiological underpinnings of MDMA's subjective effects, such as positive mood and increased empathy, remain incompletely understood.
  • Investigating these effects using noninvasive brain imaging techniques is crucial for understanding its impact on large-scale brain activity patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of MDMA on functional brain connectivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
  • To identify specific brain networks and regions affected by MDMA administration.
  • To explore the relationship between observed brain changes and subjective user experiences, including mood and bodily sensations, as well as trait anxiety.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind, repeated-measures design was employed with 25 healthy volunteers.
  • Participants received either MDMA-HCl (100 mg) or a placebo (ascorbic acid) on separate occasions.
  • fMRI data were acquired to measure global resting-state functional connectivity, followed by seed-to-voxel analysis.

Main Results:

  • MDMA administration led to a significant decrease in functional connectivity within the right insula and the salience network.
  • The observed reduction in right insula/salience network connectivity positively correlated with participants' baseline trait anxiety levels.
  • These connectivity changes also correlated with the intensity of acute, altered bodily sensations reported by participants under the influence of MDMA.

Conclusions:

  • Insular disintegration, characterized by compromised salience network membership, emerges as a key neurobiological marker of the MDMA experience.
  • The findings link MDMA-induced brain alterations to psychological factors like trait anxiety and subjective bodily sensations.
  • This research provides novel insights into the neural mechanisms underlying MDMA's effects, particularly concerning the insula's role in processing emotional and bodily states.