Schmid, Yasmin and Hysek, Cédric M. and Simmler, Linda D. and Crockett, Molly J. and Quednow, Boris B. and Liechti, Matthias E.. (2014) Differential effects of MDMA and methylphenidate on social cognition. Journal of psychopharmacology, 28 (9). pp. 847-856.
PDF
- Accepted Version
322Kb |
Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/42235/
Downloads: Statistics Overview
Abstract
Social cognition is important in everyday-life social interactions. The social cognitive effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') and methylphenidate (both used for neuroenhancement and as party drugs) are largely unknown. We investigated the acute effects of MDMA (75 mg), methylphenidate (40 mg) and placebo using the Facial Emotion Recognition Task, Multifaceted Empathy Test, Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition, Social Value Orientation Test and the Moral Judgment Task in a cross-over study in 30 healthy subjects. Additionally, subjective, autonomic, pharmacokinetic, endocrine and adverse drug effects were measured. MDMA enhanced emotional empathy for positive emotionally charged situations in the MET and tended to reduce the recognition of sad faces in the Facial Emotion Recognition Task. MDMA had no effects on cognitive empathy in the Multifaceted Empathy Test or social cognitive inferences in the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition. MDMA produced subjective 'empathogenic' effects, such as drug liking, closeness to others, openness and trust. In contrast, methylphenidate lacked such subjective effects and did not alter emotional processing, empathy or mental perspective-taking. MDMA but not methylphenidate increased the plasma levels of oxytocin and prolactin. None of the drugs influenced moral judgment. Effects on emotion recognition and emotional empathy were evident at a low dose of MDMA and likely contribute to the popularity of the drug.
Faculties and Departments: | 03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Biomedizin > Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel > Psychopharmacology Research (Liechti) 03 Faculty of Medicine > Bereich Medizinische Fächer (Klinik) > Klinische Pharmakologie 03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Klinische Forschung > Bereich Medizinische Fächer (Klinik) > Klinische Pharmakologie 05 Faculty of Science > Departement Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften > Pharmazie > Neuropharmacology (Simmler) |
---|---|
UniBasel Contributors: | Liechti, Matthias Emanuel and Simmler, Linda |
Item Type: | Article, refereed |
Article Subtype: | Research Article |
Publisher: | Sage |
ISSN: | 0269-8811 |
Note: | Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article |
Language: | English |
Identification Number: |
|
edoc DOI: | |
Last Modified: | 27 Apr 2023 03:10 |
Deposited On: | 22 Mar 2016 11:14 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page