Modulating amygdala activation to traumatic memories with a single ketamine infusion
medRxiv Preprint Server July 7, 2021 Or Duek, Yutong Li, Ben Kelmendi et al. 8 citations preprint
A single low-dose infusion of ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, given after recalling a traumatic memory can weaken the fear response associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. In the study, people who received ketamine showed lower activity in the amygdala and hippocampus when re-exposed to trauma memories, compared to those who received midazolam. Ketamine also reduced communication between the amygdala and hippocampus, without affecting connections to the prefrontal cortex. These changes lasted at least 30 days after treatment, suggesting that human traumatic memories can be altered during a reconsolidation window, potentially offering a new approach to treating PTSD.