Site icon Weight Loss Infos

2-Minute Neuroscience: MDMA

2-Minute Neuroscience: MDMA

MDMA, better known as ecstasy, molly, or 
one of a number of other street names,   is a stimulant drug that is 
chemically related to amphetamine.   Like other stimulants, MDMA causes 
increased alertness and a positive mood.   But MDMA’s effects are also distinct from the 
effects of other stimulants, as the drug causes   unique prosocial effects such as strong feelings 
of trust, openness, and closeness with others. Although we don’t have a full understanding 
of the effects of MDMA on the brain,   MDMA’s mechanism is similar in many ways to the 
mechanism of other amphetamines. MDMA inhibits the   function of proteins called transporter proteins, 
which typically remove neurotransmitters like   serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine from the 
space between neurons known as the synaptic cleft.   By inhibiting transporter proteins, 
MDMA causes serotonin, dopamine,   and norepinephrine to accumulate in the synaptic 
cleft, increasing neurotransmitter activity there.   In contrast to other amphetamines, MDMA inhibits 
the serotonin transporter more potently than   the dopamine or norepinephrine transporter.

MDMA 
also uses transporter proteins to enter neurons;   once inside, MDMA disrupts the storage of 
neurotransmitters in synaptic vesicles,   causing the buildup of serotonin, dopamine, 
and norepinephrine inside neurons;   then, MDMA facilitates the release of these 
neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft,   leading to increased neurotransmitter levels 
and activity. In addition to these mechanisms,   MDMA also binds to a number of receptors 
directly, including specific subtypes of   the serotonin receptor; these interactions 
may contribute to the effects of MDMA. It’s not clear what mechanism accounts 
for the unique prosocial effects of MDMA.   A number of studies have found that MDMA 
promotes the release of the hormone oxytocin,   which itself has been linked to prosocial effects.   At the same time, most studies have failed 
to find a link between increasing oxytocin   levels and the prosocial effects of MDMA, 
leaving these effects still unexplained..

As found on YouTube

Exit mobile version