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 .
Incidental use of ecstasy: no evidence for harmful effects on cognitive brain function in a prospective fMRI study
Rationale Heavy ecstasy use in humans has been associated with cognitive impairments and changes in cognitive brain function supposedly due to damage to the serotonin system . There is concern that even a single dose of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine may be neurotoxic , but very little is known about the consequences of a low dose of ecstasy for cognitive brain function . Objectives The objective of the study was to assess the effects of a low dose of ecstasy on human cognitive brain function using functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ) . Material s and method We prospect ively studied , as part of the NeXT ( Netherl and s XTC toxicity ) study , sustained effects of a low dose of ecstasy on brain function in 25 subjects before and after their first episode of ecstasy use ( mean 2.0 ± 1.4 ecstasy pills , on average 11.1 ± 12.9 weeks since last ecstasy use ) , compared to 24 persistent ecstasy-naive controls , also measured twice and matched with the novice users on age , gender , IQ , and cannabis use .  Cognitive brain function was measured in the domains of working memory , selective attention , and associative memory using fMRI . Results No significant effects were found of a low dose of ecstasy on working memory , selective attention , or associative memory neither at the behavioral level nor at the neurophysiological level . Conclusions This study yielded no firm evidence for sustained effects of a low dose of ecstasy on human cognitive brain function . The present findings are relevant for the development of prevention and harm reduction strategies . Furthermore , the study is relevant to the discussion concerning potential therapeutic use of ecstasy
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 .