Empathic Behavioral Substrates Altered by MDMA and Their Therapeutic Consequences

MDMA, also known as ecstasy, shows promise for treating mental disorders, but its therapeutic use remains unapproved partly because its neurobiological effects are not well understood. This review examines MDMA's effects on social behavior in humans and animals, focusing on empathy. The authors summarize current knowledge of the pharmacological and neurobiological mechanisms and brain circuits involved in MDMA's influence on social behavior, noting that scientific data on its social effects are ambiguous.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Besides its widespread recreational use, MDMA attracted the attention of many researchers and clinicians for its therapeutic potential for various mental disorders. Although recent clinical studies yielded promising results, MDMA has not been approved for medical use, partially due to the lack of clear insight into its neurobiological effects. In fact, although some suggest that MDMA’s therapeutic potential largely depends on the drug’s social effects, currently available scientific data depicts a somewhat ambiguous picture. Here we review currently available data on MDMA’s effects on social behavior in humans and laboratory animals, with particular focus on empathic aspects. We also try to summarize our current understanding of the pharmacological and neurobiological mechanisms, as well as the neurocircuitry affected by MDMA in relation to social behavior.