ketamine

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 11, 2020

High doses of ketamine can temporarily switch off the brain

Higher doses of ketamine administered to sheep completely reduced brain activity for a short period. Researchers report as the drug wore off and consciousness was regained, the animals' brain activity switched between high and low-frequency oscillations. The timing of the brain activity corresponds to the time human users report experiencing feelings that their brain 'disconnected' from their bodies after ketamine use. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 5, 2020

NMDA receptors may link psychosis and sleep deficits

NMDA receptor hypofunction is involved in the reduction of sleep spindles and delta oscillations, which appear in the brain during deep natural sleep. Findings confirm the role NMDA receptors play in sleep disorders that accompany psychotic states. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 1, 2020

How ketamine combats depression

Ketamine increases the number of serotonin 1B receptors. Ketamine binds to serotonin 1B receptors, reducing the release of serotonin and increasing the release of dopamine. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 26, 2020

Effects of rapid-acting antidepressant ketamine consolidated in sleep?

Brain connections strengthened with treatment from fast-acting antidepressants, such as ketamine, are consolidated during deep sleep. Researchers propose rapid antidepressant treatments share the ability to regulate both synaptic potentiation and homeostatic mechanisms, which may contribute to how the brain reorganizes its activity to defeat depression. Read More

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 11, 2020

JNK protein triggers neurons to withdraw their synapses when stressed

Using optogenetics to inhibit the JNK protein prevented synapses from shrinking in response to stress. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 26, 2019

One shot of ketamine could reduce problem drinking

A single shot of ketamine administered to heavy drinkers following reactivation of their drinking memories led to a rapid decrease in the urge to drink. The effect lasted for over nine months. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos Psychology

·November 18, 2019

Side effects mild and brief with single antidepressant dose of intravenous ketamine

The side effects of administering ketamine to treat major depressive disorder are mild and persist for no longer than four hours, researchers report. Most of the side effects peaked within an hour of treatment, and many patients reported the effects as being significantly reduced two hours post ketamine administration. Read More

Featured Neuroscience

·November 18, 2019

Ketamine reduces drinking in male rats, but not females

Ketamine reduced alcohol intake in male rat models of alcohol use disorder but increased the desire for alcohol in low-consumption females. Read More

Featured Neurology Neuroscience pain

·October 21, 2019

One in three pain patients suffer side effects after ketamine infusion therapy

35% of patients who used ketamine to manage pain reported significant side effects ranging from hallucination, out-of-body experiences, visual disturbances, and urinary dysfunction. 20% of the side effects were linked directly to ketamine, and 15% associated with ketamine in combination with other drugs. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 1, 2019

Psychedelic drugs: would you accept a prescription? It depends if you’ve tried them before

Numerous studies have linked controlled psychedelics to improvements in mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD. In March, the FDA approved Esketamine as a treatment for depression. However, with much stigma surrounding psychedelics, researchers question how many patients would take psychedelic medications if prescribed to them. According to a new study, 40% of people with no experience of psychedelics would be unlikely to take the prescription due to fears of 'brain damage' or a 'bad trip'. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 31, 2019

Ketamine isn’t an opioid and treats depression in a unique way

A new study clarifies the mechanism behind how ketamine works as an antidepressant. Researchers say there is evidence to suggest ketamine binds to NMDA receptors, instead of opioid receptors. Reducing the belief that ketamine is an opioid may make patients with depression more open to using the treatment. Read More