(list provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Psychopathology Studies

HC Fox et al., Neuropsychological evidence of a relatively selective profile of temporal dysfunction in drug-free MDMA (“ecstasy”) polydrug users. Psychopharmacology, 162:203-214, 2002
-- Ecstasy users scored significantly lower than non-users on several measures of working memory.

AC Parrott et al., Psychobiological problems in heavy “ecstasy” (MDMA) polydrug users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 60: 105-110, 2000
-- Ecstasy users showed a higher rate of impulsivity than non-users.

RJ Verkes et al., Cognitive performance and serotonergic function in users of ecstasy. Psychopharmacology, 153:196-202, 2001
-- Ecstasy users showed a broad pattern of statistically significant impairment of memory and prolonged reaction times.

R. Thomasius et al. Mood, cognition and serotonin transporter availability in current and former ecstasy (MDMA) users. Psychopharmacology, 167:85-96, 2003
-- Former Ecstasy users showed significant impairments on verbal recall tests.

A Gamma et al., No difference in brain activation during cognitive performance between ecstasy users and control subjects: a Positron emission tomography study. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 21:66-71, 2001
-- Data provides several indicators for an increased incidence of depressive mood in regular consumers of Ecstasy, suggesting regular use of Ecstasy may lead to depressive symptoms through selective impairment of the serotornergic system.

M Morgan, Memory deficits associated with recreational use of “ecstasy” (MDMA) Psychopharmacology, 141:30-36, 1999
-- Findings provide evidence that deficits in memory performance in recreational Ecstasy users are primarily associated with past exposure to Ecstasy rather than other drugs.

Imaging Studies

R Buchert et al., Long-Term Effects of “Ecstasy” Use on Serotonin Transporters of the Brain Investigated by PET. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 44:375-384, 2003.

-- Findings support hypothesis that Ecstasy can cause long-term alterations of the brain’s serotonin transporter.

L. Reneman et al., Effects of dose, sex, and long-term abstention from use on toxic effects of MDMA (ecstasy) on brain serotonin neurons. Lancet, 358: 1864-1869, 2001 -- Heavy Ecstasy use could be associated with neurotoxic effects on serotonin neurons in serotonin-rich brain regions.

Review of neurotoxicity in animal models

J Lyles and JL Cadet., Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDAM, Ecstasy) neurotoxicity: cellular and molecular mechanisms. Brain Research Reviews, 42:155-168, 2003.
-- Concludes evidence is overwhelming that Ecstasy produces acute, long-lasting neurotoxic effects in animals, and that there is a growing consensus that the drug might also cause neurodegenerative effects in the human brain, although it is still not clear how the animal literature might completely relate to humans.