MDMA enhances emotional empathy and prosocial behavior
Cédric M. Hysek, Yasmin Schmid, Linda D. Simmler, Gregor Domes, Markus Heinrichs, Christoph Eisenegger, Katrin H. Preller, Boris B. Quednow, Matthias E. Liechti
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience October 4, 2013 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nst161 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers (16 women, 16 men) |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Prosocial behavior Empathy Hallucinogen Developmental psychology Feeling Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 356 |
| Key findings | MDMA enhanced emotional empathy and prosocial behavior in men but impaired recognition of negative emotions in women. |
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') releases serotonin and norepinephrine. MDMA is reported to produce empathogenic and prosocial feelings. It is unknown whether MDMA in fact alters empathic concern and prosocial behavior. We investigated the acute effects of MDMA using the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET), dynamic Face Emotion Recognition Task (FERT) and Social Value Orientation (SVO) test. We also assessed effects of MDMA on plasma levels of hormones involved in social behavior using a placebo-controlled, double-blind, random-order, cross-over design in 32 healthy volunteers (16 women). MDMA enhanced explicit and implicit emotional empathy in the MET and increased prosocial behavior in the SVO test in men. MDMA did not alter cognitive empathy in the MET but impaired the identification of negative emotions, including fearful, angry and sad faces, in the FERT, particularly in women. MDMA increased plasma levels of cortisol and prolactin, which are markers of serotonergic and noradrenergic activity, and of oxytocin, which has been associated with prosocial behavior. In summary, MDMA sex-specifically altered the recognition of emotions, emotional empathy and prosociality. These effects likely enhance sociability when MDMA is used recreationally and may be useful when MDMA is administered in conjunction with psychotherapy in patients with social dysfunction or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 242
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- Acute Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Subjects Biological Psychiatry November 29, 2014
- MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nature Medicine October 1, 2023
- Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology March 12, 2020
- Distinct acute effects of LSD, MDMA, and d-amphetamine in healthy subjects Neuropsychopharmacology November 16, 2019
and 237 more in the library
Cites 15
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and 10 more in the library