New research reveals the effects of ecstasy
on memory function
Research carried out by academics
at the University of Hertfordshire has revealed that ecstasy users
reveal significantly impaired memory when compared with non-ecstasy
users.
In a paper entitled Ecstasy (MDMA)
and memory function: a meta-analytic update, which will be published
in Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental on Monday
25 June, Professor Keith Laws and Joy Kokkalis from the University’s
School of Psychology, analysed memory data from 26 studies involving
over 600 ecstasy users.
Download the paper
- an Acrobat pdf file
They report that the recreational
use of ecstasy produces a moderate to large effect on short-term
and long-term memory and verbal memory, but not on visual memory.
In over three-quarters of ecstasy users, long and short-term verbal
memory is below the average of non-ecstasy using controls. They
also found that the memory impairment was unrelated to the total
number of ecstasy tablets consumed.
Dr Laws commented: “To summarise,
this meta-analysis confirms that ecstasy users show significantly
impaired short-term and long-term memory when compared with non-ecstasy
users. The ecstasy users also displayed significantly worse verbal
than visual memory. Indeed, their visual memory was relatively
normal and seems to be affected more by concurrent cannabis use.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The University of Hertfordshire is an ambitious and entrepreneurial
University. It offers excellence in teaching, learning and research
and puts students at the heart of its activities. It is a model
of a 21st Century University, international, business-facing and
business-like in approach - making it distinctive in an ever changing
higher education environment.
The University of Hertfordshire is one of its region’s largest
employers with over 2,500 staff and a turnover of more than £160
million. With a student community of over 24,000, including more
than 2,000 international students from over 85 different countries,
the University has a global network of over 100,000 alumni. For
more information, please visit www.herts.ac.uk.
For further information and a
copy of the paper, please contact Hélène Murphy,
Media & PR Officer, University of Hertfordshire, Tel: 01707
28 4095, Email: h.1.murphy@herts.ac.uk.
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