NCT01951508

Effects of Methylphenidate, Modafinil, and MDMA on Emotion-processing in Humans: A Pharmaco-fMRI Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of methylphenidate, modafinil, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") on emotion-processing and cognitive performance using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. The primary hypothesis is that these psychostimulants differentially affect processing of emotional stimuli and potentially leading to alterations in social cognition and behavior.

Detailed description

Methylphenidate and modafinil are increasingly used as performance enhancers or "smart drugs" by students. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") is widely used as recreational drug to enhance emotions. We plan to investigate effects of these psychostimulants on emotion-processing and cognitive performance using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. Single doses of methylphenidate (60mg), modafinil (600mg), MDMA (125mg), or placebo will be administered before an fMRI scan in a placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over study design in 24 healthy subjects. Subjective emotional effects, sociability, neurohormonal, cardiovascular responses, and plasma drug concentrations will also be assessed and analyzed for potential brain-induced changes in brain activity in networks processing emotions. The primary hypothesis is that these psychostimulants differentially affect processing of emotional stimuli and potentially leading to alterations in social cognition and behavior. The work should clarify the neuropharmacological basis of the potentially differential effects of these drugs. This information will improve our understanding of the neurofunctional effects of methylphenidate, modafinil, and MDMA, and inform the ongoing debate surrounding brain doping with cognitive and mood enhancers.

Conditions

• Healthy
• Substance-related Disorder
• Mood Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Methylphenidate	60mg per os, single dose
DRUG	Modafinil	600mg per os, single dose
DRUG	MDMA	125mg per os, single dose
DRUG	Placebo	per os

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-10-01
• Primary completion: 2014-12-01
• Completion: 2014-12-01
• First posted: 2013-09-26
• Last updated: 2016-01-21

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland