MDMA Helps Adult Mice Brain Back To Teenage – Quartz

The brains of mice and humans may not be identical, but they have some important commonalities. In addition to the general gray ridicule and similar structure, each lives a vital window of development in adolescence, which begins at puberty and ends in adulthood. During this period, mice (and people) exhibit an intense desire for social interaction, in which the brain seeks out oxytocin, sometimes called the love hormone or hug. Social interaction is more desirable and more rewarding because the brain is more sensitive to the stimulation of the environment. But when the period ends, individuals become less interested in social interactions. The rewards they derive from them are definitely diminished.

A study published last week (April 3) in Nature – and done only on mice – seems to have found a way to reopen this window. When given the psychedelic drug MDMA, often badociated with euphoria and rave culture, the mice reacted and fear social interactions as they did in the past. The effects of a dose can last up to two weeks at a time.

The researchers first badessed the social behaviors of mice at different stages of development, from childhood to adulthood. Mice can choose to be alone in a room or in a "social room" with other mice. In adolescence, adolescent mice desperately needed to be surrounded by other mice; Once they became fully developed adults, they did not seem to care whether they were alone or squeaky with others.

Some 48 hours after receiving a dose of MDMA based on the weight in the abdomen, the mice showed a clear preference for situations in which they could be with other mice.

"This suggests that we have reopened a critical period in mice, giving them the ability to learn rewarding social behaviors at a time when they are less inclined to adopt these behaviors," said researcher Gül Dölen, from Johns Hopkins University, in a statement. declaration.

It is unclear whether the drug has the same effect on humans or could be used to cause similar reactions. But this could inform ongoing studies of the effects of MDMA on some mental health issues. Early clinical trials of MDMA-badisted psychotherapy in veterans with chronic PTSD have already yielded promising results.