Chronic ecstasy (MDMA) use is associated with deficits in task-switching but not inhibition or memory updating executive functions (2006)

[Jatelka]

A new entry has been added to Drugs Archive

Description:
Drug Alcohol Depend 2006 Jun 28,83(2):181-184

The study aimed to establish whether prior ecstasy (MDMA) use caused impairments in tasks which targeted specific executive functions and whether the magnitude of impairments were correlated with the level of drug use. Subjects who had used ecstasy and cannabis (N=33), subjects who had used cannabis but not ecstasy (N=17) and subjects who had used neither drug (N=18) were tested on a standard and modified form of the Stroop Colour-Word test to look for impairments in inhibition and in task-switching, respectively. A Keep Track Task was used to assess working memory updating ability. Ecstasy users, but neither of the other groups were significantly impaired (slower reaction times) on the task-switching version of the Stroop test (p<.05), but not on the standard version or on the Keep Track Task. Regression analysis showed a significant correlation between level of lifetime ecstasy use and magnitude of the switching-impairment. The findings are interpreted in line with recent theoretical views which regard executive function as composed of multiple independent cognitive components such as inhibition, switching and memory updating, only some of which may be affected by drug use or other factors.

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[6chr0nic4]

care to translate into plain english

[Jatelka]

The study looks at which (if any) memory functions are affected by MDMA, and whether this correlates to dose.

It concludes that only some memory functions MAY be affected by MDMA

[snapper]

Specifically, what is taskswitching?
Well, SWIM USFSE and found that it is to test the ability to switch from one task to another, using parts of the brain not normally used for performing just one task.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...3c1addcd9aa14b

The Stroop Colour-Word test is described with this link, but is the ability to name the color of text which reads the word for another color (ie-red colored yellow type)

http://www.snre.umich.edu/eplab/demo...troopdesc.html

Translation is long term ecstacy users can do one task normally but have a harder time multitasking. The statistician said so.