Mood state and brain electric activity in Ecstasy users

Resting EEG during open and dosed eyes and subsequent mood ratings were obt ained from 15 Ecstasy users and 14 Ecstasy-naive controls. Absolute spectra l power on the scalp, and the three-dimensional, intracerebral distribution of neuroelectric activity using low resolution brain electromagnetic tomog raphy (LORETA) were computed. LORETA revealed global increases of theta, al pha I and beta2/3 power during eyes open in Ecstasy users, and spectral ana lyses revealed a right-posterior increase of alpha2 power (confirmed by LOR ETA) and increased beta band activity during open eyes. Ecstasy users had h igher levels of stare depressiveness, emotional excitability and a trend-le vel increase in state anxiety. The observed differences may be related to r egular exposure to Ecstasy or other illicit drugs,or may be pre-existing. N euroReport 11:157-162 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.