Recreational Use of Ecstasy (MDMA) and Hippocampal Memory: A Focus on Imaging

Abstract

Ecstasy (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is a widely used recreational drug among young adults. In laboratory animals MDMA induces selective and persistent damage to central serotonergic neurons. The present chapter critically reviews current evidence for harmful effects of recreational ecstasy use on hippocampal memory functioning. The chapter covers findings in human ecstasy users from neurocognitive and neuroimaging studies and is completed by a brief outlook on the molecular genetics of ecstasy use. Although research in recreational ecstasy users is challenging and faces methodological issues, a considerable amount of neurocognitive and neuroimaging studies have provided accumulating evidence for memory impairments and altered hippocampal functioning in ecstasy users.