The prosocial effects of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals
This review (2015) discusses data from controlled laboratory studies that highlight MDMA altering social feelings, information processing, and behavior in humans, and social behavior in rodents. The findings are consistent with earlier studies that show that laboratory administration of MDMA strongly alters social processing in humans and increases social approach in humans as well as animals and that neurobiologically complex prosocial effects contribute towards its recreational use.
Authors
- Gillinder Bedi
Published
Abstract
Users of ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) report prosocial effects such as sociability and empathy. Supporting these apparently unique social effects, data from controlled laboratory studies indicate that MDMA alters social feelings, information processing, and behavior in humans, and social behavior in rodents. Here, we review this growing body of evidence. In rodents, MDMA increases passive prosocial behavior (adjacent lying) and social reward while decreasing aggression, effects that may involve serotonin 1A receptor mediated oxytocin release interacting with vasopressin receptor 1A. In humans, MDMA increases plasma oxytocin and produces feelings of social affiliation. It decreases identification of negative facial expressions (cognitive empathy) and blunts responses to social rejection, while enhancing responses to others’ positive emotions (emotional empathy) and increasing social approach. Thus, consistent with drug folklore, laboratory administration of MDMA robustly alters social processing in humans and increases social approach in humans and animals. Effects are consistent with increased sociability, with mixed evidence about enhanced empathy. These neurobiologically-complex prosocial effects likely motivate recreational ecstasy use.
Research Summary of 'The prosocial effects of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals'
Introduction
Ramos and colleagues frame MDMA (±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; ecstasy, molly) as a recreational drug with a widely reported reputation for enhancing sociability and empathy. The introduction notes rising recent use among young adults in the US and growing interest in MDMA as an adjunct to psychotherapy (for example in PTSD). The authors situate the review between popular claims of MDMA as an 'empathogen' and a decade of controlled laboratory research in animals and humans that has systematically probed acute socio-emotional effects and underlying neurobiology. This paper sets out to provide a systematic overview of controlled studies that examined acute prosocial effects of MDMA in laboratory animals and in humans, and to synthesise evidence about potential pharmacological and neurobiological mechanisms. The stated aims are to characterise the nature of MDMA-induced social changes, consider how these effects might motivate recreational use or support therapeutic applications, and identify outstanding questions for future research.
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Kamilar-Britt, P., & Bedi, G. (2015). The prosocial effects of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 57, 433-446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.08.016
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