Matthew Kirkpatrick1, Andrew W Delton2, Theresa E Robertson3, Harriet de Wit4. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 2. Center for Behavioral Political Economy, Department of Political Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA College of Business, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA. 3. College of Business, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA hdew@uchicago.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces "prosocial" effects that contribute to its recreational use. Few studies have examined the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms by which MDMA produces these effects. Here we examined the effect of MDMA on a specific prosocial effect, i.e. generosity, using a task in which participants make decisions about whether they or another person will receive money (Welfare Trade-Off Task; WTT). METHODS: The project included one study without drug administration and one with MDMA. In Study 1, we administered the WTT to healthy adults (N = 361) and examined their performance in relation to measures of personality and socioeconomic status. In Study 2, healthy volunteers with MDMA experience (N = 32) completed theWTT after MDMA administration (0, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg). RESULTS: As expected, in both studies participants were more generous with a close friend than an acquaintance or stranger. In Study 1, WTT generosity was related to household income and trait Agreeableness. In Study 2, MDMA (1.0 mg/kg) increased generosity toward a friend but not a stranger, whereas MDMA (0.5 mg/kg) slightly increased generosity toward a stranger, especially among female participants. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the WTT is a valuable, novel tool to assess a component of prosocial behavior, i.e. generosity to others. The findings support growing evidence that MDMA produces prosocial effects, but, as with oxytocin, these appear to depend on the social proximity of the relationships. The brain mechanisms underlying the construct of generosity, or the effects of MDMA on this measure, remain to be determined.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces "prosocial" effects that contribute to its recreational use. Few studies have examined the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms by which MDMA produces these effects. Here we examined the effect of MDMA on a specific prosocial effect, i.e. generosity, using a task in which participants make decisions about whether they or another person will receive money (Welfare Trade-Off Task; WTT). METHODS: The project included one study without drug administration and one with MDMA. In Study 1, we administered the WTT to healthy adults (N = 361) and examined their performance in relation to measures of personality and socioeconomic status. In Study 2, healthy volunteers with MDMA experience (N = 32) completed the WTT after MDMA administration (0, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg). RESULTS: As expected, in both studies participants were more generous with a close friend than an acquaintance or stranger. In Study 1, WTT generosity was related to household income and trait Agreeableness. In Study 2, MDMA (1.0 mg/kg) increased generosity toward a friend but not a stranger, whereas MDMA (0.5 mg/kg) slightly increased generosity toward a stranger, especially among female participants. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the WTT is a valuable, novel tool to assess a component of prosocial behavior, i.e. generosity to others. The findings support growing evidence that MDMA produces prosocial effects, but, as with oxytocin, these appear to depend on the social proximity of the relationships. The brain mechanisms underlying the construct of generosity, or the effects of MDMA on this measure, remain to be determined.
Authors: André Schmidt; Felix Müller; Patrick C Dolder; Yasmin Schmid; Davide Zanchi; Matthias E Liechti; Stefan Borgwardt Journal: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol Date: 2017-09-01 Impact factor: 5.176
Authors: Anna Borissova; Bart Ferguson; Matthew B Wall; Celia Ja Morgan; Robin L Carhart-Harris; Mark Bolstridge; Michael Ap Bloomfield; Tim M Williams; Amanda Feilding; Kevin Murphy; Robin J Tyacke; David Erritzoe; Lorna Stewart; Kim Wolff; David Nutt; H Valerie Curran; Will Lawn Journal: J Psychopharmacol Date: 2020-06-15 Impact factor: 4.153