The effects of MDMA on socio-emotional processing: Does MDMA differ from other stimulants
Open accessAbstract
±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular recreational drug that enhances sociability and feelings of closeness with others. These "prosocial" effects appear to motivate the recreational use of MDMA and may also form the basis of its potential as an adjunct to psychotherapy. However, the extent to which MDMA differs from prototypic stimulant drugs, such as dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate, in either its behavioral effects or mechanisms of action, is not fully known. The purpose of this review is to evaluate human laboratory findings of the social effects of MDMA compared to other stimulants, ranging from simple subjective ratings of sociability to more complex elements of social processing and behavior. We also review the neurochemical mechanisms by which these drugs may impact sociability. Together, the findings reviewed here lay the groundwork for better understanding the socially enhancing effects of MDMA that distinguish it from other stimulant drugs, especially as these effects relate to the reinforcing and potentially therapeutic effects of the drug.
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MDMA primarily stimulates the release of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, while also promoting oxytocin release.
“MDMA primarily stimulates the release of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA), while also promoting oxytocin release.”
From Psychoanalytically informed MDMA-assisted therapy for pathological narcissism: a novel theoretical approach (2025) · cites this paper as [80]
MDMA facilitates responding to positive social cues preferentially.
“MDMA has been shown to facilitate responding to positive social cues preferentially (82).”
Anticipated effects of MDMA, such as euphoria, stimulation and feelings of closeness, were intentionally not solicited as adverse events to avoid biasing the collection of adverse event data.
“Anticipated effects of MDMA, such as euphoria, stimulation and feelings of closeness39, were intentionally not solicited as adverse events to avoid biasing the collection of adverse event data.”
From MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study (2021) · cites this paper as [39]
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References 123 · Cited by 106
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Dimberg U (1990) Facial electromyography and emotional reactions. Psychophysiology 27: 481– 494. 2274612
- Zemishlany Z, Aizenberg D and Weizman A (2001) Subjective effects of MDMA (“ecstasy”) on human sexual function. Eur Psychiatry 16: 127– 130. 11311178
- Authors
- Bershad, A. K., Miller, M. A., Baggott, M. J., & de Wit, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience
- Genentech (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Psychopharmacology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-09-26
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1248-1258
- ISSN
- 0269-8811 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7285
- PMC
- PMC8753974
- OpenAlex
- W2507165056
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 123
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 7
- FWCI
- 1.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH020065)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA026570, RC1DA028129, R01DA002812)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM007281)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Keywords
- MDMA, methamphetamine, d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, stimulants, sociability, prosocial effects, socio-emotional processing, social processing, neurochemical mechanisms, drug reinforcement, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy
- MeSH terms
- Central Nervous System Stimulants, Emotions, Hallucinogens, Humans, Social Behavior, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
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