title: Neural correlates of working memory in pure and polyvalent ecstasy (MDMA) users.
abstract: Poor 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty of the University of Technology (RWTH), Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daumann
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schnitker
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weidemann
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thron
authors.forename: Euphrosyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gouzoulis-Mayfrank
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000661:Amphetamine; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D006213:Hallucinogens; D000661:Amphetamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine