The loud music typical of raves both intensifies and prolongs the effect of ecstasy (MDMA) in animal experiments, New Scientist reported Feb. 16.

Researchers from Italy's Institute of Neurological Science administered varying doses of ecstasy to rats and then exposed them to three hours of nightclub-volume white noise. The rats that were exposed to higher doses of ecstasy and sound exhibited lingering effects on their brains for up to five days, while those that were not exposed to the noise were only affected for about a day (the latter also was true of rats exposed to noise but given lower doses of ecstasy).

"The most important finding is that the effects of MDMA can be strengthened by common environmental factors, such as noise in discotheques," said lead researcher Michelangelo Iannone. Other researchers have found that loud noise also amplifies the effects of methamphetamine.

The research was published in the Feb. 16, 2006 issue of the journal BMC Neuroscience.