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Deficits of long-term memory in ecstasy users are related to cognitive complexity of the task

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Abstract

Rationale

Despite animal evidence that methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) causes lasting damage in brain regions related to long-term memory, results regarding human memory performance have been variable. This variability may reflect the cognitive complexity of the memory tasks. However, previous studies have tested only a limited range of cognitive complexity. Furthermore, comparisons across different studies are made difficult by regional variations in ecstasy composition and patterns of use.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to evaluate ecstasy-related deficits in human verbal memory over a wide range of cognitive complexity using subjects drawn from a single geographical population.

Materials and methods

Ecstasy users were compared to non-drug using controls on verbal tasks with low cognitive complexity (stem completion), moderate cognitive complexity (stem-cued recall and word list learning) and high cognitive complexity (California Verbal Learning Test, Verbal Paired Associates and a novel Verbal Triplet Associates test). Where significant differences were found, both groups were also compared to cannabis users.

Results

More cognitively complex memory tasks were associated with clearer ecstasy-related deficits than low complexity tasks. In the most cognitively demanding task, ecstasy-related deficits remained even after multiple learning opportunities, whereas the performance of cannabis users approached that of non-drug using controls. Ecstasy users also had weaker deliberate strategy use than both non-drug and cannabis controls.

Conclusions

Results were consistent with the proposal that ecstasy-related memory deficits are more reliable on tasks with greater cognitive complexity. This could arise either because such tasks require a greater contribution from the frontal lobe or because they require greater interaction between multiple brain regions.

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Acknowledgements

This study was aided by the Faculties Research Grant Scheme of The Australian National University and an Australian Post-graduate Award to John Brown. Manuscript preparation was supported by a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship to Elinor McKone (Australian Research Council DP0450636).

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  1. Department of Psychology, The Australian National University, Building 39, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

    John Brown, Elinor McKone & Jeff Ward

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  1. John Brown
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Correspondence to John Brown.

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Brown, J., McKone, E. & Ward, J. Deficits of long-term memory in ecstasy users are related to cognitive complexity of the task. Psychopharmacology 209, 51–67 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1766-2

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