Enantio-selective cognitive and brain activation effects of N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine in humans
by
Spitzer M, Franke B, Walter H, Buechler J,
Wunderlich AP, Schwab M, Kovar KA, Hermle L, Gron G.
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Ulm,
Leimgrubenweg 12-14,
D-89075 Ulm, Germany.
manfred.spitzer@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Neuropharmacology 2001 Aug;41(2):263-71

ABSTRACT

In a randomised double-blind trial the subjective, neuropsychological and brain activation effects of the two enantiomers of the MDMA (ecstasy-) like drug N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDE) were studied in five normal subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). (S)-MDE produced elevated mood, impairments in conceptually driven cognition and marked right frontal activation. In contrast, (R)-MDE produced increased depression, enhanced visual feature processing, and activation of visual cortical and left frontal areas. Plasma concentrations were higher for the (R)-enantiomer. The so-called entactogenic effects of MDE are likely to be caused by the (S)-enantiomer, whereas (R)-MDE appears to be responsible for neurotoxic effects.

MDE
History
MDMA/MDE
Entactogens
Controversies
Protect and survive
MDE/Eve (from PIHKAL)
Enantiomers of Adam and Eve
Ecstasy and serotonin synthesis
MDE v psilocybin v d-methamphetamine