Did Ricaurtes memory study find that, “The ecstasy users faired worst on the [memory] test”?
Not exactly. People who took 440 mg of MDMA per month for two years on average had memory scores that were no different from the controls. People who took over that amount scored slightly lower than the controls on some tests. They were still within the normal range. However, the people who took over 440 mg of MDMA per month also consumed other drugs, so these findings may have nothing to do with MDMA. [for references and details see the memory study page on Erowid] The most well-controlled study of MDMA and memory, though still not conclusive, was recently published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.* The study can be read on Erowid. A discussion of it is being prepared. *Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Daumann J, Tuchtenhagen F, Pelz S, Becker S, Kunert HJ, Fimm B, Sass H. (June 2000) Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA). J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Vol 68(6), 719-725. 3. Did Dr. Charles Grob conduct a study of MDMA as a pain
