No lasting effects of moderate doses of MDMA (Ecstasy) on memory performance and mood states in healthy humans
Stephan Ludewig
Figshare September 25, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.33991351.v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | MDMA-naive healthy volunteers |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 1.6 mg/kg, two oral doses spaced by 14 days |
| Duration | Two doses spaced 14 days apart; assessment two weeks after the second dose |
| Measures | Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), standard psychometric scales measuring anxiety and depressed mood |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | Two moderate oral doses of MDMA (1.6 mg/kg, 14 days apart) produced no changes in memory performance or affective disposition in 15 MDMA-naive healthy volunteers when assessed two weeks after the second dose. The authors state these findings do not support the appraisal that occasional recreational-dose MDMA use causes neurotoxic damage with clinically relevant sequelae. |
Abstract
Impaired cognitive performance and increased levels of anxiety and depressiveness have been reported following chronic use of the recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”). The aim of this study was to investigate whether memory functions and mood states are affected by two moderate doses of MDMA administered to healthy volunteers at intervals of two weeks, and hence to provide new psychopharmacological data for the controversial discussion over MDMA neurotoxicity. By use of memory tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and standard psychometric scales measuring anxiety and depressed mood, 15 MDMA-naive subjects were examined on memory performance and affective disposition prior and two weeks after receiving two oral doses of MDMA (1.6 mg/kg) spaced by 14 days. Data analysis consisted of repeated measures ANOVA and calculation of Effect Sizes according to the method of Cohen. Comparison of pre- and post-treatment data revealed neither alterations in memory performance, nor changes in affective disposition. Our findings do not support the appraisal, that even occasional use of MDMA in typical recreational doses causes neurotoxic damage to the human brain with clinically relevant sequelae.
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 |