The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of methylphenidate, modafinil, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) on emotion-processing and cognitive performance using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. The primary hypothesis is that these psychostimulants differentially affect processing of emotional stimuli and potentially leading to alterations in social cognition and behavior.
Topic Healthy Subjects
Country Switzerland
Visit trial
Status
Completed
Results Published
Start date
10 January 2013
End date
12 January 2014
Chance of happening
100%
Phase
Phase I
Design
Blinded
Type
Interventional
Generation
First
Participants
24
Sex
All
Age
18- 45
Therapy
No
Trial Details
Methylphenidate and modafinil are increasingly used as performance enhancers or "smart drugs" by students. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") is widely used as recreational drug to enhance emotions. We plan to investigate effects of these psychostimulants on emotion-processing and cognitive performance using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. Single doses of methylphenidate (60mg), modafinil (600mg), MDMA (125mg), or placebo will be administered before an fMRI scan in a placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over study design in 24 healthy subjects. Subjective emotional effects, sociability, neurohormonal, cardiovascular responses, and plasma drug concentrations will also be assessed and analyzed for potential brain-induced changes in brain activity in networks processing emotions. The primary hypothesis is that these psychostimulants differentially affect processing of emotional stimuli and potentially leading to alterations in social cognition and behavior. The work should clarify the neuropharmacological basis of the potentially differential effects of these drugs. This information will improve our understanding of the neurofunctional effects of methylphenidate, modafinil, and MDMA, and inform the ongoing debate surrounding brain doping with cognitive and mood enhancers.NCT Number NCT01951508
Sponsors & Collaborators
University of BaselThe University of Basel Department of Biomedicine hosts the Liechti Lab research group, headed by Matthias Liechti.
Papers
MDMA-induced changes in within-network connectivity contradict the specificity of these alterations for the effects of serotonergic hallucinogensThis double-blind, placebo-controlled, fMRI study (n=45) found that MDMA induced similar (neuronal) changes as classical (serotonergic) psychedelics.
Direct comparison of the acute subjective, emotional, autonomic, and endocrine effects of MDMA, methylphenidate, and modafinil in healthy subjects
This placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study (n=24) compared the acute autonomic, subjective, endocrine, and emotional effects of single doses of MDMA (125 mg), methylphenidate (60 mg), modafinil (600 mg) in healthy subjects using psychometric scales, the Facial Emotion Recognition Task (FERT), and the Sexual Arousal and Desire Inventory (SADI). It found that while all active drugs induced comparable hemodynamic and adverse effects, MDMA induced subjective, emotional, sexual, and endocrine effects that were distinctive from those of methylphenidate and modafinil with the doses used.
Acute effects of methylphenidate, modafinil and MDMA on negative emotion processing
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=22) only used MDMA as a control condition and found that modafinil, although often used as a cognitive enhancer, may show some adverse effects regarding emotion processing.