MDMA may be able to "reopen" a part of the brain that closes after puberty

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 the scientists also discovered that they could reopen this window by giving adult mice a single dose of MDMA – a finding that could point to new treatments for humans.

After administering a dose of MDMA to mice, scientists found an increase in oxytocin levels in rodent brains, as well as an improvement in social behaviors, suggesting that brains are more flexible than we previously thought.

"This suggests that we have reopened a critical period in mice, giving them the ability to learn social reward behaviors at a time when they are less inclined to adopt these behaviors," Newsweek's scientist told Reuters. Johns Hopkins, Gül Dölen.

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.

This article was originally published by Futurism. Read the original article.