Reduced sensitivity to MDMA-induced facilitation of social behaviour in MDMA pre-exposed rats

Thompson, Murray R.; Callaghan, Paul D.; Hunt, Glenn E.; McGregor, Iain S.

doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2008.01.014

Cited by 21 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…This is unlikely to be a major factor because participants were within a narrow weight range (BMI 18.5 – 30), and post-hoc analysis indicated that only one measure of methamphetamine’s effects (playfulness) correlated with body weight ( r = − 0.45, p = 0.04). A final limitation is that, for ethical reasons, all participants had prior experience with ecstasy or MDMA, so the findings may not generalize to MDMA-naive individuals [see 42]. However, we intentionally recruited candidates with limited previous exposure to minimize possible effects of prior use.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Ecstasy an “Empathogen”? Effects of ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Prosocial Feelings and Identification of Emotional States in Others

Bedi

Hyman

Wit

2010

Biological Psychiatry

186

199

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Background-MDMA (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 'ecstasy') users report that the drug produces unusual psychological effects, including increased empathy and prosocial feelings. These 'empathogenic' effects are cited as reasons for recreational ecstasy use, and also form the basis for the proposed use of MDMA in psychotherapy. However, they have yet to be characterized in controlled studies. Here, we investigate effects of MDMA on an important social cognitive capacity, the identification of emotional expression in others, and on socially-relevant mood states.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Ecstasy an “Empathogen”? Effects of ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Prosocial Feelings and Identification of Emotional States in Others

Bedi

Hyman

Wit

2010

Biological Psychiatry

186

199

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“…Changes in monoamine concentrations following repeated treatment with MDMA have been widely reported (Green et al 2003;Easton and Marsden 2006). However, most of these studies used high doses delivered by the experimenter, often producing neurotoxicity in the 5-HT system in rats (Clemens et al 2004;Colado et al 2004;Mayerhofer et al 2001;Thompson et al 2008) or in the DA system in mice (Colado et al 2004;Itzhak et al 2003). Recently, a decrease in striatal 5-HT binding was reported in rats 2 weeks after self-administration of high doses of MDMA (25 mg/kg/day) during 17 days (Schenk et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential changes in mesolimbic dopamine following contingent and non-contingent MDMA self-administration in mice

et al. 2009

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“…Adjacent lying in rodents has been elicited using MDMA doses from 5 mg/kg (Morley et al, 2005; Morley and McGregor, 2000; Ramos et al, 2013; Thompson et al, 2007) to 15 mg/kg (Ando et al, 2006). Increased peaceful following (non-aggressive pursuit of a conspecific), social investigation/approach, and overall social interaction have also been noted in rodents following doses of MDMA ranging from 2.5 to 10 mg/kg (Daza-Losada et al, 2009; Morley et al, 2005; Morley and McGregor, 2000; Procopio-Souza et al, 2011; Thompson et al, 2007; Thompson et al, 2008; Thompson et al, 2009). …”

Section: Effects Of Mdma On Social Behavior In Laboratory Animalsmentioning

confidence: 98%

The prosocial effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals

Kamilar-Britt

Bedi

2015

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

118

128

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Users of ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) report prosocial effects such as sociability and empathy. Supporting these apparently unique social effects, data from controlled laboratory studies indicate that MDMA alters social feelings, information processing, and behavior in humans, and social behavior in rodents. Here, we review this growing body of evidence. In rodents, MDMA increases passive prosocial behavior (adjacent lying) and social reward while decreasing aggression, effects that may involve serotonin 1A receptor mediated oxytocin release interacting with vasopressin receptor 1A. In humans, MDMA increases plasma oxytocin and produces feelings of social affiliation. It decreases identification of negative facial expressions (cognitive empathy) and blunts responses to social rejection, while enhancing responses to others’ positive emotions (emotional empathy) and increasing social approach. Thus, consistent with drug folklore, laboratory administration of MDMA robustly alters social processing in humans and increases social approach in humans and animals. Effects are consistent with increased sociability, with mixed evidence about enhanced empathy. These neurobiologically-complex prosocial effects likely motivate recreational ecstasy use.

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Reduced sensitivity to MDMA-induced facilitation of social behaviour in MDMA pre-exposed rats

Cited by 21 publications

References 62 publications

Is Ecstasy an “Empathogen”? Effects of ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Prosocial Feelings and Identification of Emotional States in Others

Is Ecstasy an “Empathogen”? Effects of ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Prosocial Feelings and Identification of Emotional States in Others

Differential changes in mesolimbic dopamine following contingent and non-contingent MDMA self-administration in mice

The prosocial effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals

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