Researchers can now see what’s happening in the brain during the euphoric state produced by MDMA through the use of MRI scans.
From NetBioCurator:
Through the use of magnetic functional imaging (fMRI), researchers can now see what is happening in the brain during the euphoric state produced by the drug MDMA, or “ecstasy.”
The findings, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, bring more clarity to how the drug might be used clinically for the treatment of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The results show that MDMA decreases activity in the limbic system – a set of structures involved in emotional responses. These effects were stronger in subjects who reported stronger subjective experiences, suggesting that they are related. Communication between the medial temporal lobe and medial prefrontal cortex, which is involved in emotional control, was reduced. This effect, and the drop in activity in the limbic system, are opposite to patterns seen in patients who suffer from anxiety.
