Cited by 163Psychedelics and Drug StudiesNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

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The prosocial effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals

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Kamilar-Britt, Philip, Bedi, Gillinder·2015·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

DOI 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.08.016PMC PMC4678620

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Abstract

Users of ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') report prosocial effects such as sociability and empathy. Supporting these apparently unique social effects, data from controlled laboratory studies indicate that MDMA alters social feelings, information processing, and behavior in humans, and social behavior in rodents. Here, we review this growing body of evidence. In rodents, MDMA increases passive prosocial behavior (adjacent lying) and social reward while decreasing aggression, effects that may involve serotonin 1A receptor mediated oxytocin release interacting with vasopressin receptor 1A. In humans, MDMA increases plasma oxytocin and produces feelings of social affiliation. It decreases identification of negative facial expressions (cognitive empathy) and blunts responses to social rejection, while enhancing responses to others' positive emotions (emotional empathy) and increasing social approach. Thus, consistent with drug folklore, laboratory administration of MDMA robustly alters social processing in humans and increases social approach in humans and animals. Effects are consistent with increased sociability, with mixed evidence about enhanced empathy. These neurobiologically-complex prosocial effects likely motivate recreational ecstasy use.

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Authors: Kamilar-Britt, P., & Bedi, G.
Affiliations: New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
Corresponding author: Bedi, Gillinder
ORCID: Kamilar-Britt, Philip
Bedi, Gillinder
Venue: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2015-10
Volume: 57
Pages: 433-446
ISSN: 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.08.016
PMC: PMC4678620
OpenAlex: W1810864195
Cited by: 163
References: 99
Citations by year: 2026: 11 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 7
FWCI: 1.72
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: NIDA (DA029679, DA034877)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords: MDMA, ecstasy, prosocial behavior, sociability, empathy, social affiliation, oxytocin, vasopressin, 5-HT1A receptor, social reward, aggression, social rejection, facial expression recognition, social approach, rodents
MeSH terms: Animals, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Social Behavior, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine

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The prosocial effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals

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