The differential effects of ecstasy/polydrug use on executive components: shifting, inhibition, updating and access to semantic memory.

Rationale/objectives: Recent theoretical models suggest that the central executive may not be a unified structure. The present study explored the nature of central executive deficits in ecstasy users.

Methods: In study 1, 27 ecstasy users and 34 non-users were assessed using tasks to tap memory updating (computation span; letter updating) and access to long-term memory (a semantic fluency test and the Chicago Word Fluency Test).

Syllogistic reasoning performance in MDMA (Ecstasy) users.

Previous research has demonstrated working memory and executive deficits in recreational users of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; Ecstasy). In turn, both of these constructs have been implicated in syllogistic reasoning performance. Twenty-two MDMA users (mean age = 21.

The nature of ecstasy-group related deficits in associative learning.

Rationale/objectives: Research has revealed associative learning deficits among users of ecstasy; the present study explored the component processes underlying these deficits.

Methods: Thirty-five ecstasy users and 62 non-ecstasy users completed a computer-based, verbal paired-associates learning task. Participants attempted to learn eight sequentially presented word pairs.