Universität zu Köln

Wagner, Daniel, Tkotz, Simon, Koester, Philip, Becker, Benjamin ORCID: 0000-0002-9014-9671, Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Euphrosyne and Daumann, Joerg (2015). Learning, Memory, and Executive Function in New MDMA Users: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study. Front. Neurosci., 9. LAUSANNE: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. ISSN 1662-453X

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Abstract

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is associated with changes in neurocognitive performance. Recent studies in laboratory animals have provided additional support for the neurodegeneration hypothesis. However, results from animal research need to be applied to humans with caution. Moreover, several of the studies that examine MDMA users suffer from methodological shortcomings. Therefore, a prospective cohort study was designed in order to overcome these previous methodological shortcomings and to assess the relationship between the continuing use of MDMA and cognitive performance in incipient MDMA users. It was hypothesized that, depending on the amount of MDMA taken, the continued use of MDMA over a 2-year period would lead to further decreases in cognitive performance, especially in visual paired association learning tasks. Ninety-six subjects were assessed, at the second follow-up assessment: 31 of these were non-users, 55 moderate-users, and 10 heavy users. Separate repeated measures analyses of variance were conducted for each cognitive domain, including attention and information processing speed, episodic memory, and executive functioning. Furthermore, possible confounders including age, general intelligence, cannabis use, alcohol use, use of other concomitant substances, recent medical treatment, participation in sports, level of nutrition, sleep patterns, and subjective well-being were assessed. The Repeated measures analysis of variance (rANOVA) revealed that a marginally significant change in immediate and delayed recall test performances of visual paired associates learning had taken place within the follow-up period of 2 years. No further deterioration in continuing MDMA-users was observed in the second follow-up period. No significant differences with the other neuropsychological tests were noted. It seems that MDMA use can impair visual paired associates learning in new users. However, the groups differed in their use of concomitant use of illicit drugs. Therefore, performance differences between the groups cannot completely ascribed to the use of MDMA.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Wagner, Daniel UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Tkotz, Simon UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Koester, Philip UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Becker, Benjamin UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-9014-9671 UNSPECIFIED Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Euphrosyne UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Daumann, Joerg UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-383810
DOI:	10.3389/fnins.2015.00445
Journal or Publication Title:	Front. Neurosci.
Volume:	9
Date:	2015
Publisher:	FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
Place of Publication:	LAUSANNE
ISSN:	1662-453X
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language ECSTASY USERS; HIPPOCAMPAL DYSFUNCTION; MINIMAL EXPOSURE; 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE; DEFICITS; NEUROTOXICITY; IMPAIRMENT; COGNITION; PERFORMANCE; MECHANISMS Multiple languages Neurosciences Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/38381