Effects of MDMA Injections on the Behavior of Socially-Housed Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis).
Sébastien Ballesta, Gilles Reymond, Matthieu Pozzobon, Jean-René Duhamel
PLoS One June 11, 2016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147136 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3 |
| Population | Young male long-tailed macaques |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 mg/kg |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | MDMA at 1.5 mg/kg significantly increases social grooming behavior in macaques, confirming its prosocial effect in non-human primates. |
Abstract
3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methyl amphetamine (MDMA) is one of the few known molecules to increase human and rodent prosocial behaviors. However, this effect has never been assessed on the social behavior of non-human primates. In our study, we subcutaneously injected three different doses of MDMA (1.0, 1.5 or 2.0mg/kg) to a group of three, socially housed, young male long-tailed macaques. More than 200 hours of behavioral data were recorded, during 68 behavioral sessions, by an automatic color-based video device that tracked the 3D positions of each animal and of a toy. This data was then categorized into 5 exclusive behaviors (resting, locomotion, foraging, social contact and object play). In addition, received and given social grooming was manually scored. Results show several significant dose-dependent behavioral effects. At 1.5mg/kg only, MDMA induces a significant increase in social grooming behavior, thus confirming the prosocial effect of MDMA in macaques. Additionally, at 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg MDMA injection substantially decreases foraging behavior, which is consistent with the known anorexigenic effect of this compound. Furthermore, at 2.0 mg/kg MDMA injection induces an increase in locomotor behavior, which is also in accordance with its known stimulant property. Interestingly, MDMA injected at 1.0mg/kg increases the rate of object play, which might be interpreted as a decrease of the inhibition to manipulate a unique object in presence of others, or, as an increase of the intrinsic motivation to manipulate this object. Together, our results support the effectiveness of MDMA to study the complex neurobiology of primates' social behaviors.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Integrating psychotherapy and psychopharmacology: psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and other combined treatments Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology June 1, 2020
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Increases Affiliative Behaviors in Squirrel Monkeys in a Serotonin 2A Receptor-Dependent Manner Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2017
- A Systematic Review of the MDMA Model to Address Social Impairment in Autism. Current Neuropharmacology 2021
- Sensitization to the prosocial effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Neuropharmacology June 2019
- (±)-MDMA and its enantiomers: potential therapeutic advantages of R(-)-MDMA. Psychopharmacology February 2018
and 1 more in the library
Cites 23
- Amphetamine-type central nervous system stimulants release norepinephrine more potently than they release dopamine and serotonin Synapse 2000
- Differences Between the Mechanism of Action of MDMA, MBDB, and the Classic Hallucinogens. Identification of a New Therapeutic Class: Entactogens Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- Gender differences in the subjective effects of MDMA Psychopharmacology March 5, 2001
- MDMA enhances emotional empathy and prosocial behavior Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience October 4, 2013
- (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Selectively Damages Central Serotonergic Neurons in Nonhuman Primates JAMA July 1, 1988
and 18 more in the library