A randomized controlled trial of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and fear extinction retention in healthy adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fear conditioning and extinction are well-characterized cross-species models of fear-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and recent animal data suggest that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) enhances fear extinction retention.

Aims

This study investigated the effect of MDMA on fear learning, extinction training, and retention in healthy humans.

Methods

The study involved a randomized placebo-controlled, two-group, parallel design trial in a sample of healthy adults, age 21-55 recruited from a major metropolitan area. The experimental paradigm included a fear acquisition session followed by an extinction training session 24 hours later, and 2 hours after study drug administration. Fear extinction retention was measured 48 hours afte

SUBMITTER: Maples-Keller JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10191244 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature