Erowid References Database
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Reneman L, Majoie CBLM, Schmand B, van den Brink W, den Heeten GJ.
“Pre-frontal N-acetylaspartate is strongly associated with memory performance in (abstinent) Ecstasy users: Preliminary report”.
Biological Psychiatry. 2001;50:550-554.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'ecstasy') is known to dmaage brain serotonin neurons in animals and possibly humans. Because serotonergic damage may adversely effect memory, we compared verbal memory function between MDMA users and MDMA-naive control subjects and evaluated the relationship between verbal memory function and neuronal function in the MDMA users.
METHODS: An auditory verbal memory task (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test( was used to study eight abstinent MDMA users and seven control subjects. In addition, [1H]-MRS was used in different brain regions of all MDMA users to measure N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratios, a marker for neuronal viability.
RESULTS: The MDMA users recalled significantly fewer words than control subjects on delayed (p. = 0.03) but not immediate recall (p. = 0.08). In MDMA users, delayed memory function was strongly associated with NAA/Cr only in the pre-frontal cortex (R2 = 0.76, p. = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Greater decrements in memory function predicted lower NAA/Cr levels - and by inference greater neuronal dysfunction - in the prefrontal cortex of MDMA users.
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