Taking one to six ecstasy pills has no noticeable negative effect on memory function or attention and concentration. This concludes neuropyschologist Gerry Jager from the UMC Utrecht in her doctoral thesis. Using the fMRI imaging technique she studied brain functioning in 25 youths before and after their first use of ecstasy.
Jager’s research is unique because she studied young people without knowing in advance whether or not they would use drugs. This kind of prospective study on ecstasy use is the first of its kind. It determines the effect on brain functions of only a few ecstasy pills, while eliminating the possibility that the effects were already present before the first ecstasy use. Jager has now shown that fMRI examination done shortly after the first ecstasy use shows no adverse effects. Although it is possible that other techniques will find long-term negative effects from low dosages of ecstasy, this remains to be seen.
She also studied brain function in a large group of users of various drugs, including ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis. Frequent use of ecstasy led to poorer performance on memory tasks and affected activity in certain parts of the brain involved in memory. However, it was noticeable that, to a great extent, these effects could be attributed to other drugs they were using in addition to ecstasy, and to amphetamines (speed) in particular.
Jager’s research is part of the Netherlands XTC Toxicity (NeXT) study, which uses fMRI and other brain scan-techniques to measure the effect of ecstasy and cannabis use on brain function.
Gerry Jager will receive her PhD from Utrecht University on October 31.
More information:
UMC Utrecht, In- ann External Communication
Poppy Soen en Linda Minnen, tel.088 75 574 83