Changes in synaptic markers after administration of ketamine or psychedelics: a systematic scoping review
Frontiers in Psychiatry June 26, 2023 Simon Zhornitsky, Henrique Nunes Pereira Oliva, Laura A. Jayne et al. 12 citations
Ketamine and psychedelics can alter markers of synaptic density, which may relate to their abuse liability and potential therapeutic effects in substance use disorders. A scoping review of 84 studies found mixed results for ketamine: single or repeated doses under basal conditions produced inconsistent synaptic changes in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, but a single dose counteracted stress-related reductions in these markers, and repeated dosing also reversed stress effects. Psychedelics generally increased synaptic markers, though results varied by agent. The heterogeneity likely stems from differences in methods, drugs, sex, and marker types.