Neural correlates of working memory in pure and polyvalent ecstasy (MDMA) users

J. Daumann; R. Schnitker; A. Thron; E. Gouzoulis-Mayfrank

doi:10.1055/s-2003-825296

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Neural correlates of working memory in pure and polyvalent ecstasy (MDMA) users

J Daumann ¹, R Schnitker ², A Thron ³, E Gouzoulis-Mayfrank ¹

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Germany
²Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research – CNS, Medical Faculty of the University of Technology (RWTH), Aachen, Germany
³Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Faculty of the University of Technology (RWTH), Aachen

Abstract

Low cognitive performance in ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine=MDMA) users has been related to the well-recognized neurotoxic effects of the drug upon central serotonergic and possibly also dopaminergic systems. However, concomitant use of other drugs has been a critical confound in most investigations. In this study we used an n-back task and fMRI to investigate working memory performance and related cerebral activation in eight, currently abstinent pure MDMA users and two matched groups of polyvalent MDMA users and non-users. Pure MDMA users presented lower activations than controls and/or polyvalent users, most notably in inferior temporal regions, the angular gyrus and the striate cortex, whereas polyvalent users did not differ from controls. Our results suggest that altered brain activation patterns during cognitive processing in ecstasy users may be mainly associated with prior MDMA use. Concomitant use of other drugs may modify this effect.

Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Daumann J, Tuchtenhagen F, Pelz S, Becker S, Kunert H-J, et al. Impaired cognitive performance in drug-free recreational ecstasy (MDMA) users. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000; 68:719–725.

Daumann J, Fimm B, Willmes K, Thron A, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E. Cerebral activation in abstinent ecstasy (MDMA) users during a working memory task: a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res 2003; 16:479–487.