Historique
Article de Périodique
Plasticity of the acoustic startle reflex in currently abstinent ecstasy (MDMA) users (2004)
(Plasticité du reflex acoustique chez des ex-usagers d'ecstasy)
Auteur(s) :
HEEKEREN, K. ;
DAUMANN, J. ;
GEYER, M. A. ;
GOUZOULIS-MAYFRANK, E.
Année :
2004
Page(s) :
418-424
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Refs biblio. :
59
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Discipline :
PRO (Produits, mode d'action, méthode de dépistage / Substances, action mode, screening methods)
Résumé :
RATIONALE: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is neurotoxic upon central serotonin systems in experimental animals and probably also in humans. Serotonin is involved in the habituation, sensitization and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex. OBJECTIVES: To study the plasticity of startle reflex in currently abstinent MDMA users. METHODS: Electromyographic responses to acoustic startle stimuli (pulse alone and prepulse-pulse trials) were recorded in 23 currently abstinent ecstasy users and 20 matched control subjects. Depending on the extent of their previous drug use ecstasy users were divided into two groups [life-time dose 90 pills (n=12), respectively]. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in habituation, sensitization or PPI of the startle reflex between the entire group of ecstasy users and controls. However, sensitization of the startle reflex was stronger in the >90 compared with either the
Affiliation :
Dept Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Univ. Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann Strasse 9, 50924 Cologne.
Allemagne. Germany.
Allemagne. Germany.