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In a study reported in this issue of Neurology, Bolla et al.1 found that abstinent users of the recreational drug "Ecstasy" (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) have memory impairment. Moreover, the memory impairment correlated with the degree of drug exposure, and most importantly, with a reduction in brain serotonin, as indexed by CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The implications of this finding for public health are obvious, because the use of this drug is increasing steadily in college students and young adults. This study suggests that Ecstasy abusers risk serotonin neurotoxicity and permanent memory impairment. Clearly, additional research is necessary to determine the exact mechanism of the neurotoxic effects of this drug and the long-term outcome of Ecstasy use in individuals.
Neuropsychological studies of individuals who abuse Ecstasy should also address questions regarding the relation between the neurotransmitter serotonin and higher cognitive processes such as memory. Human cognitive neuroscientific research has emphasized identifying the neuroanatomic correlates of specific cognitive processes more than it has their neurochemical basis. Although the brain is clearly comprised of networks of interconnected regions that support cognitive …
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