Stanford Reward Circuits of the Brain Study – MDMA

This biomarker study characterises how MDMA acutely modulates human reward circuits using functional magnetic resonance imaging and behavioural measures.

Healthy volunteers (age 18–55) with at least two prior MDMA exposures receive randomized, blinded oral MDMA 80 mg, 120 mg, and placebo across three sessions; fMRI is performed at peak drug levels and participants are monitored throughout.

Outcomes include circuit-level fMRI responses, behavioural measures, and self-reported experience; cumulative prior MDMA exposure is considered in analyses.