Effect of ketamine intervention on hemodynamic responses in patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Scientific reports May 20, 2026 Guan-Jie She, Wei-Chi Li, Chun-Hsiang Chou et al.
Ketamine infusion alters brain activity patterns in people with treatment-resistant depression, specifically in regions involved in sensory-cognitive integration, mood regulation, and cognitive control. In a study of 45 patients, those receiving ketamine showed changes in the timing and shape of hemodynamic responses in the bilateral olfactory cortex and right inferior parietal gyrus, compared to those receiving midazolam. Improvements in suicidal thoughts were linked to changes in the thalamus and superior frontal gyrus. Ketamine responders also had reduced time-to-peak in the left precuneus. These findings suggest ketamine's effects on suicidal ideation may involve neurovascular coupling dynamics.