Dissociable Effects of a Single Dose of Ecstasy (MDMA) on Psychomotor Skills and Attentional Performance
C. T. J. Lamers, Johannes G. Ramaekers, N. D. Muntjewerff, K. L. Sikkema, Wim J. Riedel, Nele Samyn, Nicoleta Read, Karel Brookhuis
Journal of Psychopharmacology December 1, 2003 DOI: 10.1177/0269881103174015 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single 75 mg dose of MDMA improved psychomotor performance, including movement speed and tracking in both single and divided attention tasks, but impaired the ability to predict object movement under divided attention, which may indicate impairment of driving-relevant skills. No effect was found on visual search, planning, or semantic memory retrieval. Alcohol 0.5 g/kg was also tested but its effects are not described here. The findings suggest MDMA can both enhance and impair specific cognitive and motor functions relevant to driving.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 12 |
| Population | Healthy recreational ecstasy users |
| Interventions | MDMA Alcohol |
| Dose | 75 mg MDMA, 0.5 g/kg alcohol |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Psychomotor learning Cognition Cognitive psychology |
| Citations | 105 |
| Key finding | MDMA improved psychomotor performance but impaired object movement prediction under divided attention, with no effect on visual search, planning, or semantic memory. |
Abstract
Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is a psychoactive recreational drug widely used by young people visiting dance parties, and has been associated with poor cognitive function. The current study assessed the influence of a single dose of MDMA 75 mg and alcohol 0.5 g/kg on cognition, psychomotor performance and driving-related task performance. Twelve healthy recreational ecstasy users participated in an experimental study conducted according to a double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled three-way cross-over design. MDMA improved psychomotor performance, such as movement speed and tracking performance in a single task, as well as in a divided attention task. MDMA impaired the ability to predict object movement under divided attention. However, the inability to accurately predict object movement after MDMA may indicate impairment of particular performance skills relevant to driving. There was no effect of MDMA on visual search, planning or retrieval from semantic memory.