|
according to the latest research:
FACT: E use
appears to impair memory
Specifically: immediate & delayed verbal memory (remembering what someone
has just told you), delayed visual recall (the ability to remember images),
and short term memory (also known as "working memory").
Overall, E users find it more difficult to recall and memorise
information than non-E users.
These effects have been detected days, weeks, and months afterwards
in both light (20 pills in a lifetime), moderate (20-100 pills) and heavy (100+)
users.
FACT: The degree
of memory impairment is between 20 - 40% below average
This is still, technically, well within what is classed as "normal"
memory performance. It does not seem to affect users everyday lives.
 top
SUSPECTED:
The 'more' E you take, the worse the memory impairment.
The more E you take, the worse your memory performance may be - especially short
term memory and immediate vocal recall (Gouzoulis-Mayfrank).
This has been confirmed by another, less well designed study (Bolla).
However, nobody yet knows exactly what "more" means.
It could be lifetime exposure, monthly dose, frequency or duration of use, or
amount of E per single occasion.
UNKNOWN: If
you stop taking E, your memory will get better again
There is conflicting evidence. Some preliminary evidence from one study (Morgan)
appears to imply that abstinence from E for six months may normalize memory performance.
And another solid study (Semple) found that memory appeared to recover after abstinence
from E.
But another study (Wareing) found that very heavy E users (1300
pills lifetime doses) still performed worse than controls even after a year of
abstinence. Note: 1300 pills is very heavy use, the equivalent of 3-4 pills
twice weekly for 4 years.
top
UNKNOWN: E may affect other
brain functions
For instance, moderate E users (93 pills lifetime dose) in one well-designed study
(Gouzoulis-Mayfrank) showed worse performance in: problem solving, general knowledge,
selective attention, and logical thinking. No other studies have tested these
areas yet.
FACT: Smoking cannabis as well
as taking E makes memory performance even worse
Cannabis use appears to increase the impairment of working memory or play its
own role in memory impairment which may interact with MDMA's effect (Gouzoulis-Mayfrank)
You can read the details on the main studies here
|
