Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
Memory deficits of MDMA users are linked to cortical thinning related to 5-HT receptor densities
Rebecca C Coray1,2, Vincent Beliveau3,4, Josua Zimmermann1,2
1Experimental Pharmacopsychology and Psychological Addiction Research, Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Regular recreational use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') has been consistently linked to verbal memory dysfunctions, whose neurobiological origins remain unclear. Although neurochemical, structural and functional alterations resulting from repeated MDMA intake have been identified in user populations, only limited knowledge exists regarding potential interrelationships among these components and their implications for mnemonic functions. The present study, thus, first examined the association of MDMA use with grey matter volume and cortical thickness. Subsequently, structural brain alterations were related to verbal memory performance and atlas-derived cerebral serotonin (5-HT) receptor expression patterns. Our data, involving 122 participants (61 MDMA users, 61 age-, sex- and education-matched MDMA-naive controls), revealed a robust reduction of grey matter volume within hippocampal regions and impaired verbal learning, short-term recall after interference, long-term recall and recognition performance in MDMA users compared with controls. Self-reported MDMA use in the past 6 months correlated with several memory performance scores. A moderate inverse correlation across all participants was observed between hippocampal volumes and verbal long-term memory. Correspondingly, hippocampal CA1 grey matter volume was related to MDMA use intensity in the last months as indicated by MDMA hair concentrations. The extent of cortical and subcortical grey matter differences between groups correlated with atlas-based 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and 5-HT4 receptor densities, suggesting a serotonergic basis for mnemonic and structural alterations in MDMA users. Together, these findings highlight a multidimensional origin of memory dysfunction in MDMA users, where alterations in the chemoarchitecture of the brain may affect behaviour, possibly via influences on brain grey matter structures.
Insights
Recreational 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") use is linked to memory loss. MDMA users show reduced grey matter volume in the hippocampus and impaired verbal memory, potentially due to serotonin receptor changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Recreational 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") use is associated with verbal memory deficits.
- The neurobiological underpinnings of these memory dysfunctions in MDMA users are not fully understood.
- Limited research exists on the interrelationships between neurochemical, structural, and functional brain changes and their impact on memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between MDMA use and grey matter volume and cortical thickness.
- To explore the relationship between structural brain alterations, verbal memory performance, and serotonin receptor expression.
- To elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying memory impairment in MDMA users.
Main Methods:
- Utilized neuroimaging techniques to assess grey matter volume and cortical thickness in 122 participants (61 MDMA users, 61 controls).
- Evaluated verbal memory performance, including learning, short-term recall, long-term recall, and recognition.
- Correlated structural brain differences with self-reported MDMA use, MDMA hair concentrations, and atlas-derived serotonin receptor densities (5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT4).
Main Results:
- MDMA users exhibited significantly reduced hippocampal grey matter volume compared to controls.
- Impaired performance was observed in verbal learning, short-term recall, long-term recall, and recognition tasks among MDMA users.
- Hippocampal volume correlated inversely with verbal long-term memory, and MDMA use intensity correlated with hippocampal CA1 grey matter volume.
- Differences in grey matter correlated with serotonin receptor densities, suggesting a serotonergic basis for alterations.
Conclusions:
- MDMA use leads to structural changes in the hippocampus, contributing to verbal memory deficits.
- Serotonergic system alterations may play a crucial role in the observed mnemonic and structural changes in MDMA users.
- Memory dysfunction in MDMA users likely stems from a complex interplay of neurochemical and structural brain alterations.
More Related Videos
09:57How to Measure Cortical Folding from MR Images: a Step-by-Step Tutorial to Compute Local Gyrification Index
Published on: January 2, 2012
14:57Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology
Published on: March 23, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:03Long-term Depression
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
01:05Long-term Depression
01:23Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:22CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents
01:26Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory