Increased oxytocin concentrations and prosocial feelings in humans after ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) administration
Abstract
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or "ecstasy") is a recreationally used drug with remarkable and characteristic prosocial effects. In spite of abundant attention in the scientific literature, the mechanism of its prosocial effects has not been elucidated in humans. Recently, research in animals has suggested that the neuropeptide oxytocin may induce these effects. In a double blind, randomized, crossover, and placebo-controlled study in 15 healthy volunteers we assessed blood oxytocin and MDMA concentrations and subjective prosocial effects after oral administration of 100 mg MDMA or placebo. MDMA induced a robust increase of blood oxytocin concentrations and an increase of subjective prosocial feelings. Within subjects, the variations in these feelings were significantly and positively correlated with variation in oxytocin levels, and the correlations between these feelings and oxytocin were significantly stronger than those between these feelings and blood MDMA levels. MDMA induces oxytocin release in humans, which may be involved in the characteristic prosocial effects of ecstasy.
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MDMA's ability to enhance social bonding is thought to be driven by its stimulation of oxytocin release, which increases prosocial feelings, greater trust in interpersonal interactions, and openness to social reward and connectedness.
“MDMA’s ability to enhance social bonding is thought to be driven by its stimulation of oxytocin release (84), which increases prosocial feelings (85), greater trust in interpersonal interactions (86), and openness to social reward and connectedness (87).”
From Psychoanalytically informed MDMA-assisted therapy for pathological narcissism: a novel theoretical approach (2025) · cites this paper as [85]
OT is released by MDMA and is associated with the prosocial effects of this drug in humans and rats.
“With respect to drugs of abuse, OT is best known for being released by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy), and is associated with the prosocial effects of this drug in both humans and rats (Wolff et al 2006; Thompson et al 2007; Dumont et al 2009; Thompson et al 2009).”
From The behavioral, anatomical and pharmacological parallels between social attachment, love and addiction (2012) · cites this paper as Dumont et al 2009
The high stability in OT levels across a period of several months and the links reported between plasma OT with socioemotional and behavioral indicators of affiliation support the validity of peripheral OT as a biomarker of affiliation processes.
“The high stability in OT levels across a period of several months and the links reported between plasma OT with socioemotional and behavioral indicators of affiliation (27,28,30,39,67–69) support the validity of peripheral OT as a biomarker of affiliation processes.”
From Oxytocin and the development of parenting in humans (2010) · cites this paper as [69]
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References 40 · Cited by 238
- Authors
- Dumont, G. J. H., Sweep, F. C. G. J., van der Steen, R., Hermsen, R., Donders, A. R. T., Touw, D. J., van Gerven, J. M. A., Buitelaar, J. K., & Verkes, R. J.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
- The Hague Hospitals
- Centre for Human Drug Research
- Corresponding author
- Dumont, G. J. H.
- Venue
- Social Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-06-25
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 359-366
- ISSN
- 1747-0919 (ISSN-L)
- 1747-0927
- OpenAlex
- W2127349182
- Cited by
- 238
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 10.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- MDMA, ecstasy, oxytocin, prosocial behavior
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Female, Hallucinogens, Humans, Male, Oxytocin, Social Behavior, Cross-Over Studies, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Young Adult
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