What is the evidence for nerve cell damage in humans?
There have been a number of different kinds of neurological studies in humans, some have looked at the CSF, the fluid which bathes the brain, others still have stimulated the serotonin cells and looked at the hormonal response, others have used brain imaging techniques such as PET scans, and the list goes on. 16 out of the 18 studies published so far shown some form of reduction in the serotonergic nerve cell function. But here it is important to point out that these studies to date have only looked at relatively long-term, heavy users of the drug. That is, people taking more than one tablet at a time, and with a lifetime intake of at least 52 tablets. If Ecstasy does damage nerve cells, what effects might you observe? Serotonin is a very important chemical. It is essential for the regulation of mood, anxiety, impulsivity, aggression, cognitive processing, learning and memory, appetite, sleep and body temperature. Here the psychological research is quite clear: Ecstasy users have more
