Ketamine Modulates the Neural Correlates of Reward Processing in Unmedicated Patients in Remission from Depression
medRxiv Preprint Server December 7, 2020 Vasileia Kotoula, Argyris Stringaris, Nuria Mackes et al. 9 citations preprint
Ketamine, an antidepressant, can alter activity in brain reward areas within two hours of a single infusion, even in people who are not currently depressed. In a study of 37 remitted depression patients, ketamine increased brain responses in the nucleus accumbens and putamen during anticipation and receipt of small rewards, and the level of a ketamine metabolite (2R,6R)-HNK correlated with activation in the ventral tegmental area. These changes occurred without any changes in mood symptoms, suggesting ketamine may improve anhedonia by directly modulating how the brain processes reward feedback.