MDMA (Ecstasy) and Brain Changes

This slide shows brain PET scans of an individual who has never used MDMA (seen at the top of slide marked “control”) and those of an individual who used MDMA for an extended period of time up until 3 weeks prior to the images being taken. Specifically, the PET scans show the brain’s ability to transport a neurotransmitter called “serotonin” from the synapse back into the releasing neuron. Serotonin is fundamental to the brain’s integration of information and emotion.

Brighter colors in the PET scans indicate that more serotonin is being transported than do duller colors. As seen in the slide, the brain of the MDMA user shows duller colors compared to the control, indicating a decrease in the MDMA abuser’s ability to remove serotonin from the synapse. Such findings are leading researchers to conclude that MDMA may increase the risk of long-term, perhaps permanent, problems with learning and memory.