Enantio-selective cognitive and brain activation effects of N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine in humans.
In a randomised double-blind trial the subjective, neuropsychological and brain activation effects of the two enantiomers of the MDMA (ecstasy-) like drug N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDE) were studied in five normal subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). (S)-MDE produced elevated mood, impairments in conceptually driven cognition and marked right frontal activation. In contrast, (R)-MDE produced increased depression, enhanced visual feature processing, and activation of visual cortical and left frontal areas. Plasma concentrations were higher for the (R)-enantiomer. The so-called entactogenic effects of MDE are likely to be caused by the (S)-enantiomer, whereas (R)-MDE appears to be responsible for neurotoxic effects.
Spitzer
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 12-14, D-89075 Ulm, Germany. manfred.spitzer@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Franke
B
B
Walter
H
H
Buechler
J
J
Wunderlich
A P
AP
Schwab
M
M
Kovar
K A
KA
Hermle
L
L
Grön
G
G
D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; C051800:3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine