Deficits of Long-term Memory in Ecstasy Users Are Related to Cognitive Complexity of the Task

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2010 Feb 2

PMID 20119830

Citations 12

Authors

John Brown

Elinor McKone

Jeff Ward

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Rationale: Despite animal evidence that methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) causes lasting damage in brain regions related to long-term memory, results regarding human memory performance have been variable. This variability may reflect the cognitive complexity of the memory tasks. However, previous studies have tested only a limited range of cognitive complexity. Furthermore, comparisons across different studies are made difficult by regional variations in ecstasy composition and patterns of use.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate ecstasy-related deficits in human verbal memory over a wide range of cognitive complexity using subjects drawn from a single geographical population.

Materials And Methods: Ecstasy users were compared to non-drug using controls on verbal tasks with low cognitive complexity (stem completion), moderate cognitive complexity (stem-cued recall and word list learning) and high cognitive complexity (California Verbal Learning Test, Verbal Paired Associates and a novel Verbal Triplet Associates test). Where significant differences were found, both groups were also compared to cannabis users.

Results: More cognitively complex memory tasks were associated with clearer ecstasy-related deficits than low complexity tasks. In the most cognitively demanding task, ecstasy-related deficits remained even after multiple learning opportunities, whereas the performance of cannabis users approached that of non-drug using controls. Ecstasy users also had weaker deliberate strategy use than both non-drug and cannabis controls.

Conclusions: Results were consistent with the proposal that ecstasy-related memory deficits are more reliable on tasks with greater cognitive complexity. This could arise either because such tasks require a greater contribution from the frontal lobe or because they require greater interaction between multiple brain regions.

Citing Articles

Association of Cannabis With Cognitive Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Scott J, Slomiak S, Jones J, Rosen A, Moore T, Gur R JAMA Psychiatry. 2018; 75(6):585-595.

PMID: 29710074 PMC: 6137521. DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0335.

Verbal Memory Impairment in Polydrug Ecstasy Users: A Clinical Perspective.

Kuypers K, Theunissen E, van Wel J, de Sousa Fernandes Perna E, Linssen A, Sambeth A PLoS One. 2016; 11(2):e0149438.

PMID: 26907605 PMC: 4764468. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149438.

Learning, Memory, and Executive Function in New MDMA Users: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study.

Wagner D, Tkotz S, Koester P, Becker B, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Daumann J Front Neurosci. 2015; 9:445.

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3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): current perspectives.

Meyer J Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2014; 4:83-99.

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Durability of improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and absence of harmful effects or drug dependency after 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy: a prospective long-term follow-up study.

Mithoefer M, Wagner M, Mithoefer A, Jerome L, Martin S, Yazar-Klosinski B J Psychopharmacol. 2012; 27(1):28-39.

PMID: 23172889 PMC: 3573678. DOI: 10.1177/0269881112456611.

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