Weekend Ecstasy use disrupts memory in rats.
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy) is a popular recreational drug. However, its exposure is often limited to the weekends in a highly stimulating environment. The goal of this study was to investigate the behavioral domains of working and recognition memory within a model of weekend Ecstasy use. Rats self-administered MDMA during 2-h sessions on two consecutive days followed by five drug-free days. Coupling this intermittent dosing schedule with a novel object recognition task, we found non-spatial memory impaired after only two weekends of self-administered MDMA. Our findings suggest that MDMA at recreational use levels can disrupt memory processes.