Functional Brain Imaging in Recreational Users of Ecstasy
Observational case-control study (n=18) comparing recreational MDMA users and healthy controls using SPECT with [123I]IBZM to assess dopaminergic function before and after a motorbike-riding computer task.
Details
Investigators compared chronic recreational MDMA (ecstasy) users with healthy control subjects to assess whether ecstasy use is associated with deficient dopaminergic neurotransmission.
Participants underwent SPECT imaging with [123I]IBZM (a D2 receptor radiotracer) at baseline and after performing a motorbike-riding computer game to measure dopamine release and D2 binding.
Preliminary findings showed lower baseline D2 measures and reduced displacement of [123I]IBZM by endogenous dopamine in ecstasy users compared with controls, while task performance (reaction time) did not differ.