title: [The cognitive effects of ecstasy].
abstract: The recreational drug ecstasy is widely used among dance clubbers for its acute euphoric and entactogenic effects. Ecstasy exerts its acute effects by increasing the extracellular concentration of monoamines in the brain by reversing the functions of reuptake mechanisms. These elevations in extracellular monoamine concentrations result in wake promoting effects, body hyperthermia and reductions in local cerebral blood flow. However, on the long-run, ecstasy reduces serotonin concentration and density of serotonergic markers in several brain areas. Functional deficits, like sleep disturbances, anxiogenic- and aggressive behavioral responses and mood disorders also may occur. However, one of the most prominent adverse effects is related to the cognitive functions. Following ecstasy use attenuated retro- and prospective memory and defective higher order cognitive functions can be observed, especially in heavy users. Several studies indicated the involvement of the endocannabinoid system, the sleep regulating centers and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis based on or parallel to serotonergic damage in these processes. Recent evidence, however, also showed that changes in one of the latter systems can influence the functions of each other. In this review we summarize the related literature, and propose a complex mechanism for the long-lasting cognitive deficits following heavy ecstasy use.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis Egyetem, Gyógyszerhatástani Intézet, Budapest, Hungary. bagdy.gyorgy@pharma.semmelweis-univ.hu.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pázmány
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petschner
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ádori
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kirilly
authors.forename: Dénes Rómeó
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Andó
authors.forename: Brigitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balogh
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gyöngyösi
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagdy
mesh_terms: D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D063388:Endocannabinoids; D012701:Serotonin; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine