A to Z

ketamine

·October 3, 2012·3 min read

Drug Reverses Abnormal Brain Function in Rett Syndrome Mice

in a mouse model of Rett syndrome, researchers were able to reverse abnormalities in brain activity and improve neurological function by treating animals with an FDA-approved anesthesia drug, ketamine.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 30, 2022·5 min read

Drugs Effects of Ketamine in Mice Can Depend on the Sex of the Human Experimenter

Mice respond better to the antidepressant effect of ketamine when the drug is delivered by men, not women, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 26, 2020·4 min read

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.

Featured Psychology

·April 16, 2018·4 min read

Fast Acting Benefits of Ketamine for Depression and Suicidality

A new study backs up previous findings that nasally administered ketamine can provide rapid treatment for depression and suicidal thoughts.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 11, 2020·5 min read

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.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 17, 2021·3 min read

Hope For Psychosis Sufferers

A new model of schizophrenia opens the door to a better understanding of, and therapeutic options for brain dysfunction that is at the root of psychosis.

Image shows the effectiveness of ketamine in treating depression.

Featured Neuroscience Videos Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 18, 2016·5 min read

How Depression and Antidepressant Drugs Work

A new study shows the effectiveness of ketamine in treating depression in a mouse model of the disease and also helps bring together two hypotheses for the cause of depression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 16, 2020·4 min read

How Does Ketamine Combat Depression?

4E-BPs proteins are key to unlocking ketamine's antidepressant effects. When 4E-BPs are absent in neurons, ketamine can not produce its antidepressant effect.

This shows a finger touching a drawing of a brain

Featured Neuroscience

·December 2, 2022·4 min read

How Ketamine Acts as a ‘Switch’ in the Brain

Ketamine alters neural activity in the cerebral cortex, silencing normally active neurons and activating neurons that are normally inactive. The ketamine activity-induced "switch" in brain regions associated with depression may help explain its treatment effects.

This shows a man holding his back in pain

Featured Neuroscience Pain Psychology

·January 30, 2023·5 min read

How Ketamine Acts as Antidepressant in Chronic Pain

Chronic pain in mice activates Tiam1 in pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex, increasing the number of dendritic spines and inducing synaptic plasticity. Ketamine's antidepressant effect in chronic pain is mediated by the drug blocking Tiam1-dependent maladaptive synaptic plasticity in ACC neurons.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 1, 2020·4 min read

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.