Updating of working memory in ecstasy polydrug users: Findings from fNIRS.
Catharine Montgomery, John E. Fisk, Carl A Roberts
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 2017 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2609 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational case-control study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | 20 ecstasy (MDMA) users and 20 non-users |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Memory |
| Key findings | Ecstasy users and non-users showed no behavioural difference on verbal and spatial memory updating tasks, but ecstasy users showed greater blood oxygenation and deoxygenation change over the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which the authors interpret as support for greater effort to achieve the same behavioural output. Total lifetime dose was high, and recency of use was significantly related to most changes, suggesting heavy and recent use may be particularly detrimental. |
Abstract
Cognitive deficits are now well documented in ecstasy (MDMA) users with type and relative demand of task emerging as important factors. The updating component of executive processes appears to be particularly affected. The study reported here used functional near infrared spectroscopy imaging to investigate changes in cortical haemodynamics during memory updating. Twenty ecstasy users and 20 non-users completed verbal and spatial memory updating tasks and brain blood oxygenation and deoxygenation change was measured using functional near infrared spectroscopy. There was no interaction between group and difficulty on the updating tasks, though there was a significant main effect of difficulty on both tasks. The effects of group approached significance on the verbal updating task. There were significant differences in blood oxygenation and deoxygenation change at optodes centred over the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with ecstasy users showing greater blood oxygenation than the other groups. The lack of a behavioural difference on both tasks but presence of blood oxygenation and deoxygenation changes in letter updating provides support for the notion that ecstasy-polydrug users are investing more effort to achieve the same behavioural output. Total lifetime dose was high, and recency of use was significantly related to most changes, suggesting that heavy and recent use may be particularly detrimental.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Individuals who took MDMA in a clinical setting | 1986 | Observational study | |
| Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Abstinent MDMA users | 1998 | Observational cohort | |
| Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people | 2000 | Observational | |
| The Psychological and Physiological Effects of MDMA on Normal Volunteers Older, more educated, drug-experienced individuals | 1986 | Observational cohort | |
| Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Young people who were regular or novice MDMA users, or non-users | 1998 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
Citations in the library
Cites 17
- Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry June 1, 2000
- Mood and cognitive effects of ± 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’): week‐end ‘high’ followed by mid‐week low Addiction July 1, 1997
- Recreational use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ‘ecstasy’: evidence for cognitive impairment Psychological Medicine May 1, 2001
- MDMA polydrug users show processspecific central executive impairments coupled with impaired social and emotional judgement processes Journal of Psychopharmacology March 30, 2006
- Verbal working memory deficits in current and previous users of MDMA Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 5, 2004
and 12 more in the library