Ecstasy leaves memory intact

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Ecstasy leaves memory intact


Although frequent and sustained use of the party drug ecstasy has no noticeable long-term effects on short-term memory and ability to concentrate, there is a risk for long-term memory.

Occasional use of ecstasy (an average of a total of two pills) or frequent cannabis use (several marijuana cigarettes a week over a period of an average of four years) does not lead to long-term abnormalities in memory or ability to concentrate, or related brain activity. These are the main findings in Gerry Jager’s doctoral thesis. She studied the long-term effects of the popular drugs ecstasy and cannabis on brain functions (memory and ability to concentrate) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Jager will receive her PhD from Utrecht University on October 31. The title of her thesis is, “Functional MRI studies in human ecstasy and cannabis users.”

http://www.umcutrecht.nl/research/ag...ory+intact.htm