The differential effects of ecstasy/polydrug use on executive components: shifting, inhibition, updating and access to semantic memory

Montgomery, Catharine; Fisk, John E.; Newcombe, Russell; Murphy, Phillip N.

doi:10.1007/s00213-005-0065-9

Cited by 74 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Research from our laboratory has previously demonstrated that ecstasy users are impaired on executive function (spatial working memory- Wareing et al 2004, memory updating-Montgomery et al 2005a, access to semantic memory- Montgomery et al 2005a) and other working memory/executive based tasks (associative learning- Montgomery et al 2005b, syllogistic reasoning-Fisk et al 2005Montgomery et al 2005c). Similar findings have been observed by other authors (see Morgan, 2000, for a review of the literature).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self reported sleep quality and cognitive performance in ecstasy users

Montgomery

Fisk

Wareing

et al. 2007

Human Psychopharmacology

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Objectives: Research suggests that ecstasy users exhibit psychobiological changes relative to nonusers such as altered sleep patterns and cognitive deficits. In turn, it has been suggested that sleep quality may be a mediator of such cognitive deficits in ecstasy users. The present study sought to investigate this proposed relationship.Methods: Aspects of cognitive functioning in 104 ecstasy users and 103 nonusers obtained from our previous studies were reanalysed to explore the extent to which ecstasy-related group differences were attributable to differences in sleep quality.Cognitive function was assessed via the computation span test, consonant updating, paired associate learning, syllogistic reasoning and word fluency. Sleep quality was measured via the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Results: Ecstasy users performed worse than nonusers on all cognitive measures. While no differences were observed on the ESS, ecstasy users reported greater tiredness at the beginning of testing than nonusers. When the sleep variables were included as covariates, the effects of ecstasy on all cognitive measures remained significant. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest little evidence for the mediating effects of sleep on cognitive function in ecstasy users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self reported sleep quality and cognitive performance in ecstasy users

Montgomery

Fisk

Wareing

et al. 2007

Human Psychopharmacology

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“…not being entirely accurate, not least given the implications for memory deficits with drug use. However due to the legal status of the drug being investigated, this is the most appropriate method for attaining an estimate of lifetime drug use and is the most commonly used method in the literature investigating drug use and cognition (Fox et al, 2001;Montgomery et al, 2005;Montgomery et al, 2010). Additional uncertainty about purity of ecstasy tablets consumed, as well as cocaine purity and cannabis strength cannot be assured.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Estimates of total lifetime drug use of each drug were calculated (as per Montgomery et al, 2005) as well as totals for last 30 days drug use and weekly drug use estimates.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in prefrontal blood oxygenation during an acute multitasking stressor in ecstasy polydrug users

et al. 2014

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Background: Cognitive deficits are well documented in ecstasy (MDMA) users with such deficits being taken as evidence of dysregulation of the 5HT system. More recently neuroimaging has been used to corroborate these deficits. The present study aimed to assess multitasking performance in ecstasy polydrug users, polydrug users and drug naïve individuals. It was predicted that ecstasy polydrug users would perform worse than nonusers on the behavioural measure and this would be supported by difference in cortical blood oxygenation. Methods: Twenty ecstasy-polydrug users, 17 polydrug users and 19 drug naïve individuals took part. On day 1 drug use history was taken and questionnaire measures were completed. On day 2, participants completed a 20 minute multitasking stressor while brain blood oxygenation was measured using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).Results: There were no significant differences between the 3 groups on the subscales of the multitasking stressor. In addition, there were no significant differences on self-report measures of perceived workload (NASA -TLX). In terms of mood, ecstasy users were significantly less calm and less relaxed compared to drug-naïve controls. There were also significant differences at 3 voxels on the fNIRS indicating decreased blood oxygenation in ecstasy users compared to drug naïve controls at V2 (left DLPFC), V14 and V16 (right DLPFC), and compared to polydrug controls at V14. Conclusions: The results of the present study provide support for changes in brain activation during performance of demanding tasks in ecstasy polydrug users, which could be related to cerebral vasoconstriction.3

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“…Drug and alcohol use was assessed via a self-report questionnaire (Montgomery et al, 2005). Participants are asked about the frequency and intensity of ecstasy, cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine and other drug use, and their responses are used to calculate scores for frequency of use, total lifetime amount used, average weekly amount used, abstinence, length of use and recent use.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is not unusual in studies of this type and many published ecstasy use studies rely on self-report and do not use objective measures (e.g. Fox et al, 2002;Montgomery et al 2005;Rodgers, 2000). In support, a recent study has demonstrated that self-reported use of ecstasy is consistent with the levels of MDMA obtained from hair samples (Scholey et al, 2011).…”

Section: Diurnal Cortisolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basal functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and psychological distress in recreational ecstasy polydrug users

Wetherell

Montgomery

2013

Psychopharmacology

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Rationale: Ecstasy (MDMA) is a psychostimulant drug which is increasingly associated with psychobiological dysfunction. While some recent studies suggest acute changes in neuroendocrine function, less is known about long term changes in HPA functionality in recreational users. Objectives:The current study is the first to explore the effects of ecstasy-polydrug use on psychological distress and basal functioning of the HPA axis through assessing the secretion of cortisol across the diurnal period.Method: Seventy-six participants (21 nonusers, 29 light ecstasy-polydrug users 26 heavy ecstasypolydrug users) completed a substance use inventory and measures of psychological distress at baseline, then two consecutive days of cortisol sampling (on awakening, 30 minutes post awakening, between 1400-1600hrs and pre bed time). On day two, participants also attended the laboratory to complete a 20-minute multitasking stressor.Results: Both user groups exhibited significantly greater levels of anxiety and depression than nonusers. On day one, all participants exhibited a typical cortisol profile, though light users had significantly elevated levels pre-bed. On day two, heavy users demonstrated elevated levels upon awakening and all ecstasy-polydrug users demonstrated elevated pre-bed levels compared to nonusers. Significant between group differences were also observed in afternoon cortisol levels and in overall cortisol secretion across the day. Conclusions:The increases in anxiety and depression are in line with previous observations in recreational ecstasy-polydrug users. Dysregulated diurnal cortisol may be indicative of inappropriate anticipation of forthcoming demands and hypersecretion may lead to the increased psychological and physical morbidity associated with heavy recreational use of ecstasy.

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The differential effects of ecstasy/polydrug use on executive components: shifting, inhibition, updating and access to semantic memory

Cited by 74 publications

References 66 publications

Self reported sleep quality and cognitive performance in ecstasy users

Self reported sleep quality and cognitive performance in ecstasy users

Differences in prefrontal blood oxygenation during an acute multitasking stressor in ecstasy polydrug users

Basal functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and psychological distress in recreational ecstasy polydrug users

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