There is no convincing evidence that moderate MDMA use is associated with structural or functional brain alterations in neuroimaging measures .
MDMA ( " ecstasy " ) is widely used as a recreational drug , although there has been some debate about its neurotoxic effects in humans .
However , most studies have investigated subjects with heavy use patterns , and the effects of transient MDMA use are unclear .
In this review , we therefore focus on subjects with moderate use patterns , in order to assess the evidence for harmful effects .
Smaller amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex predict escalating stimulant use.
Drug addiction is a chronic , relapsing brain disorder . The identification of biomarkers that render individuals vulnerable for the transition from occasional drug use to addiction is of key importance to develop early intervention strategies . The aim of the present study was to prospect ively assess brain structural markers for escalating drug use in two independent sample s of occasional amphetamine-type stimulant users . At baseline occasional users of amphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ( cumulative lifetime use ≤10 units ) underwent structural brain imaging and were followed up at 12 months and 24 months ( Study 1 , n = 38 ; Study 2 , n = 28 ) . Structural vulnerability markers for escalating amphetamine-type drug use were examined by comparing baseline grey matter volumes of participants who increased use with those who maintained or reduced use during the follow-up period . Participants in both sample s who subsequently increased amphetamine-type drugs use displayed smaller medial prefrontal cortex volumes and , additionally , in the basolateral amygdala ( Study 1 ) and dorsal striatum ( Study 2 ) . In both sample s the baseline volumes were significantly negatively correlated with stimulant use during the subsequent 12 and 24 months . Additional multiple regression analyses on the pooled data sets revealed some evidence of a compound-specific association between the baseline volume of the left basolateral amygdala and the subsequent use of amphetamine . These findings indicate that smaller brain volumes in fronto-striato-limbic regions implicated in impulsivity and decision-making might render an individual vulnerable for the transition from occasional to escalating amphetamine-type stimulant use
There is no convincing evidence that moderate MDMA use is associated with structural or functional brain alterations in neuroimaging measures .
MDMA ( " ecstasy " ) is widely used as a recreational drug , although there has been some debate about its neurotoxic effects in humans .
However , most studies have investigated subjects with heavy use patterns , and the effects of transient MDMA use are unclear .
In this review , we therefore focus on subjects with moderate use patterns , in order to assess the evidence for harmful effects .