Comment · Fri, December 21, 2012
(x-post from r/askscience) When people take MDMA, why do their eyes "roll" into the back of their head? What is up with the other symptoms? Empathy? Tracers?
Original post in this thread
entitude · 15 points
What causes some of the other signatory signs of ecstasy? Why do people see "tracers"? Why are colors bright and more impressive? Clenching the jaw/grinding teeth? Why do people's chin do the characteristic chatter, like how you react to extreme cold while at the same time your body is probably a little warmer than usual? Why does it feel so good to get not just warm but HOT? And, the strangest one I think, what is up with all the empathy?
(Any other interesting explanations of other "symptoms" that I can't think of right now would be appreciated!)
What they were answering
UCSultanPepper · 1 points
Mg2+? Is the logic that because the Mg2+ blocks the NMDA channel pore, that additional Mg2+ will make it even more difficult? I don't know if I believe the logic, because the AMPA channels open first, and increase the neuron potential enough where it should force the Mg2+ out of the NMDA receptor pore regardless of how much extra Mg2+ you have.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
You are correct. Once the membrane potential rises above -60mV, the Mg2+ will be forced from the pore and the channel will open like normal. The issue is, most people have low levels of magnesium in the brain as it is. When one's extracellular glutamate levels rise due to various stimulants, the ion channels can open too frequently, even before the neuron reaches excitability. Adding the magnesium supplementation ensures that the channels will be blocked until they reach excitability, even if glycine and glutamate are already bound to the NMDA receptors. It's not going to protect as well as say, memantine would, but it will help prevent much of the excitotoxicity that would arise using your body's natural mechanism for protection. Adding another NMDA modulator on top of the magnesium supplementation would protect even more.