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Mouse friends
In the developing brain, teens learn to socialize during a critical time.
According to a study published Wednesday in the journal, this critical period occurs almost at the point of sexual maturity in mice. Nature. But scientists have also discovered that they could reopen this window by giving adult mice a single dose of the drug MDMA, a finding that could point to new treatments for humans.
Hugging hormone
After administering a dose of MDMA to mice, scientists found an increase in oxytocin levels in rodent brains, as well as an upward trend in social behaviors, suggesting that brains are more flexible than expected by scientists.
"This suggests that we have reopened a critical period in mice, giving them the opportunity to learn social reward behaviors at a time when they are less inclined to adopt these behaviors," said scientist Gül Dölen, from Johns Hopkins. Newsweek.
New medicine
At the present time, doctors are studying MDMA as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, as previous studies have shown that the drug, combined with psychotherapy, has helped some people. Now, if this mouse study fits into the human brain, scientists might know why.
"When we develop new therapies or determine when to administer them, it is essential to know what biological mechanism they are acting on," Dölen said.
READ MORE: MICE, MDMA AND THE BRAIN: WHY USE A MEDICINE TO TREAT PTSD?[[[[Newsweek]
More about MDMA: Five US sites are currently recruiting patients for MDMA clinical trials
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