Methylenedioxymethamphetamine is a connectogen with empathogenic, entactogenic, and still further connective properties: It is time to reconcile “the great entactogen—empathogen debate”

Summary & key facts

This paper looks at two ways people have named MDMA's mind effects: one word focuses on feeling closer to others, the other on feeling closer to yourself. The authors say both are really about the same thing — a strong feeling of connection — and suggest a single name, "connectogen," to capture that. They explain how MDMA acts in the body, note that evidence for social connection comes from controlled studies while evidence for self-connection mostly comes from reports and therapy stories, and call for more research to test and compare these ideas.

Key facts:

• MDMA is chemically an amphetamine and works mainly by causing the brain to release serotonin, norepinephrine, and the hormone oxytocin, which are chemicals linked to mood and social feelings.
• Researchers have used two different labels for MDMA's mental effects: "empathogen" for its ability to increase empathy and social openness, and "entactogen" for its ability to increase self-awareness and inner touching.
• The authors argue these two labels describe parts of the same basic effect: MDMA produces an intense feeling of connection. They propose calling this class of effects "connectogenic," meaning it makes people feel connected.
• Quantitative research, meaning studies that measure behavior and feelings with numbers, supports that MDMA increases prosocial behavior and openness. Evidence that MDMA increases self-connection mainly comes from personal reports, therapy testimonials, and qualitative studies.
• Early evidence also suggests MDMA can create other kinds of connection, such as feeling more connected to the present moment, to the body, to the world, and to spiritual ideas, but this is less well studied.
• The paper notes that scientists still do not agree on a single label, that each label highlights different aspects, and that the "connectogen" idea is a proposal that needs more systematic research to confirm its usefulness.

Abstract

. Thus, MDMA is basically a connectogen with at least the two major connective properties: entactogenic (intrapersonal) and empathogenic (interpersonal). Furthermore, first evidence shows that MDMA might also have further connectogenic properties such as a strong sense of connection with the here-and-now, the body, the world, and with spiritual principles. Finally, we compare connectogenic properties of MDMA with connectogenic properties of classic psychedelics, and lay out some future research in this regard.

Topics

Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Class (philosophy) Cognitive psychology Ecstasy Epistemology Feeling Introspection MDMA Openness to experience Philosophy Psychiatry Psychology Social psychology

Substances

MDMA

Conditions & symptoms

PTSD Feeling disconnected from others