ArticlePsychopharmacology2004
Plasticity of the acoustic startle reflex in currently abstinent ecstasy (MDMA) users.
Article in Psychopharmacology, 2004. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prepulse inhibition deficit as a transdiagnostic process in neuropsychiatric disorders: a systematic review.BMC psychology · 2023Pooled it
- Effects of experimental acute tryptophan depletion on acoustic startle response in females.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2008Trial
- Exposure to an obesogenic diet during adolescence leads to abnormal maturation of neural and behavioral substrates underpinning fear and anxiety.Brain, behavior, and immunity · 2018Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
rationale3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is neurotoxic upon central serotonin systems in experimental animals and probably also in humans. Serotonin is involved in the habituation, sensitization and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex.
objectivesTo study the plasticity of startle reflex in currently abstinent MDMA users.
methodsElectromyographic responses to acoustic startle stimuli (pulse alone and prepulse-pulse trials) were recorded in 23 currently abstinent ecstasy users and 20 matched control subjects. Depending on the extent of their previous drug use ecstasy users were divided into two groups [life-time dose <90 (n=11) and > or =90 pills (n=12), respectively].
resultsThere were no significant differences in habituation, sensitization or PPI of the startle reflex between the entire group of ecstasy users and controls. However, sensitization of the startle reflex was stronger in the > or =90 compared with either the <90 MDMA pills or the control group. Correlations between patterns of drug use and startle parameters did not reach the level of significance, although users with a younger age at the onset of MDMA (and other drug) use tended to present with higher sensitization of the startle reflex.
conclusionsHeavy users of MDMA (and other recreational drugs) present with strong sensitization of the startle reflex. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether this finding is secondary to the use of MDMA and its well-recognized neurotoxic potential. Alternatively, strong sensitization might reflect a pre-existing trait predisposing to drug use. A clearer picture of the impact of ecstasy on startle plasticity may be obtained from longitudinal investigations.
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