title: Ecstasy exposure & gender: examining components of verbal memory functioning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have demonstrated verbal memory deficits associated with past year ecstasy use, although specific underlying components of these deficits are less understood. Further, prior research suggests potential gender differences in ecstasy-induced serotonergic changes. Therefore, the current study investigated whether gender moderated the relationship between ecstasy exposure and components of verbal memory after controlling for polydrug use and confounding variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 65 polydrug users with a wide range of ecstasy exposure (ages 18-35; 48 ecstasy and 17 marijuana users; 0-2310 ecstasy tablets). Participants completed a verbal learning and memory task, psychological questionnaires, and a drug use interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased past year ecstasy exposure predicted poorer short and long delayed free and cued recalls, retention, and recall discrimination. Male ecstasy users were more susceptible to dose-dependent deficits in retention than female users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Past year ecstasy consumption was associated with verbal memory retrieval, retention, and discrimination deficits in a dose-dependent manner in a sample of healthy young adult polydrug users. Male ecstasy users were at particular risk for deficits in retention following a long delay. Gender difference may be reflective of different patterns of polydrug use as well as increased hippocampal sensitivity. Future research examining neuronal correlates of verbal memory deficits in ecstasy users are needed.
authors.affiliation: McLean Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jenessa S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shear
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America.
authors.forename: Krista M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lisdahl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008568:Memory; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014706:Verbal Learning
chemical_list: D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine