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Increased visual cortical excitability in ecstasy users: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Palermo, Italy
² Fondazione "Santa Lucia" IRCCS, Rome, Italy

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr M Oliveri, Laboratorio di neurologia clinica e comportamentale, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Via Ardeatina 306 00179 Roma, Italy;
maxoliveri{at}tiscalinet.it

Methods: Ecstasy users and control subjects underwent single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the occipital cortex. The phosphene threshold was analysed and compared in the two groups.

Results: Phosphene thresholds were significantly lower in ecstasy users compared with control subjects, and were correlated negatively with frequency of ecstasy use. Frequency of use was positively correlated with the presence of visual hallucinations. The phosphene threshold of subjects with hallucinations was significantly lower than that of subjects without hallucinations.

Conclusions: The use of ecstasy as a recreational drug is associated with an increased excitability of the visual cortex, possibly linked with massive serotonin release, followed by serotonin depletion, in this cortical area.

Keywords: ecstasy; transcranial magnetic stimulation; phosphenes; visual cortex

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