Ketamine for Neuroimaging & Brain Measures

9 papers and 79 clinical trials exploring ketamine as a treatment for neuroimaging & brain measures.

CompoundArylcyclohexylamine

Ketamine

A dissociative anesthetic with rapid-acting antidepressant properties, widely used in clinical settings for mood and pain disorders.

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IndicationApproximately 264 million people globally suffer from depression, with PTSD affecting around 8 million adults in the United States each year.

Neuroimaging & Brain Measures

Recent advances in neuroimaging have shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the effects of psychedelics, particularly in the treatment of mental health disorders such as depression and PTSD. Studies involving compounds like psilocybin and MDMA have demonstrated significant changes in brain activity associated with therapeutic outcomes.

Full Neuroimaging & Brain Measures profile

Academic Research

9 papers

Open Accessmeta

Effects of psychoplastogens on blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This pre-registered systematic review and meta-analysis of 29 studies found no evidence that psychoplastogens (e.g. ketamine, psychedelics, MDMA, scopolamine) acutely increase peripheral BDNF in humans (SMD = 0.024, p = 0.64), with results unchanged by drug, dose, blood fraction, age or diagnosis. The authors conclude peripheral BDNF is unlikely to be a useful marker of rapid neuroplasticity in humans and recommend more precise neuroimaging and stimulation-based measures for future translation.

Published: November 29, 2024
Journal: Molecular Psychiatry
Authors: Calder, A. E., Hase, A., Hasler, G.

Paywallmeta

Functional imaging studies of acute administration of classic psychedelics, ketamine, and MDMA: Methodological limitations and convergent results

This systematic review (s=51) examines fMRI studies on the acute effects of psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine on the human brain. The review highlights significant methodological inconsistencies across studies, including 54% not meeting contemporary Type I error correction or motion artefact control standards. Despite these limitations, convergent findings indicate that psilocybin and LSD affect the connectivity architecture of the sensorimotor-association cortical axis, while ketamine increases activation in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex.

Published: November 1, 2023
Journal: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Authors: Basbaum, A., Corder, G., Dworkin, R. H., Edwards, R. R., Eickhoff, C. R., Larsen, I. B., Linguiti, S., McKinstry-Wu, A., Pines, A., Roalf, D. R., Satterthwaite, T. D., Scott, J. C., Sharma, V., Strain, E. C., Sydnor, V. J., Vogel, J. W., Wellman, N.

Open Accessindividual

Effects of a dissociative drug on fronto-limbic resting-state functional connectivity in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot study

In a randomised controlled pilot study of 26 individuals with PTSD, subanesthetic ketamine (vs midazolam) did not increase resting‑state functional connectivity between the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex subregions. Instead, ketamine induced a transient decrease in vmPFC–amygdala connectivity, challenging prior correlational links between dissociation and fronto‑limbic overconnectivity.

Published: October 23, 2023
Journal: Psychopharmacology
Authors: Amen, S., Ben-Zion, Z., Danböck, S. K., Duek, O., Harpaz-Rotem, I., Kelmendi, B., Korem, N., Levy, I., Wilhelm, F. H.

Open Accessindividual

Functional connectivity of the amygdala and the antidepressant and antisuicidal effects of repeated ketamine infusions in major depressive disorder

In 39 patients with major depressive disorder treated with six subanesthetic ketamine infusions, increased resting-state functional connectivity between the left amygdala and left medial superior frontal gyrus after treatment correlated with reduction in depressive symptoms, and baseline connectivity between the bilateral amygdalae and the right putamen predicted antidepressant and antisuicidal response (AUCs 0.739 and 0.827).

Published: February 2, 2023
Journal: Frontiers in Neuroscience
Authors: Lan, X-F., Wang, C., Zhou, Y.

Paywallmeta

Biomarkers of ketamine's antidepressant effect: An umbrella review

This review (n=4,912) explores the evidence on blood-based and neuroimaging biomarkers underlying the antidepressant effects of ketamine. Ketamine can elicit an anti-inflammatorry effect, decrease at least one pro-inflammatory marker and data indicates the antidepressant effect is related to changes in synaptic plasticity and functional connectivity.

Published: February 1, 2023
Journal: Journal of Affective Disorders
Authors: Cao, B., Ceban, F., Di Vincenzo, J. D., Ho, R., Jawad, M. Y., Meshkat, S., Rhee, T. G., Rosenblat, J. D., Teopiz, K. M.

Open Accessindividual

A unified model of ketamine’s dissociative and psychedelic properties

The paper presents a unified multi-level model in which ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects stem from acute modulation of reward circuits and a sub-acute increase in neuroplasticity, while its dissociative versus psychedelic phenomenology reflects dose- and context-dependent desegregation/disintegration of the salience network (SN) and default-mode network (DMN), respectively. Computationally, SN nodes are framed as priors about the ‘minimal’ self and DMN nodes as priors about the ‘biographical’ self, and the authors argue that relaxing high-level priors during psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, aided by neuroplasticity, may permit revision of pathological self-models and boost long-term benefit.

Published: December 17, 2022
Journal: Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors: Castro-Rodrigues, P., Figueiredo, I., Marguilho, M.

Clinical Trials

79 trials

RecruitingPhase II

Ketamine and Neurofeedback as Combined Therapeutic Interventions to Target Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in Alcohol Use Disorder (Nektar)

This Phase II, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group single-centre trial (n=75) will assess the effects of a single IV ketamine infusion (0.8 mg/kg) combined with real-time fMRI neurofeedback versus sham NFT and placebo in people with alcohol use disorder.

Started: May 1, 2025
Type: interventional
Blinding: triple
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT06969937

RecruitingPhase II/III

Understanding and Treating Suicidal Ideation With Ketamine

This open-label, Phase II/III trial (n=36) will study the effects of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg IV infused over 40 minutes, four infusions over two weeks) on suicidal ideation in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Started: April 8, 2025
Type: interventional
Blinding: none
Randomized: No
Registry ID: NCT06891300

Not yet recruitingPhase I

Pilot Study: Establishing Glutamatergic Changes in Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine

This open-label, early Phase I trial (n=10) will investigate the effects of a single intravenous ketamine infusion (0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes) on glutamatergic activity and synaptic strength in individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD).

Started: March 15, 2025
Type: interventional
Blinding: none
Randomized: No
Registry ID: NCT06788249

RecruitingPhase II

Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression (G2K)

Randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase II trial (n=30) comparing single IV ketamine 0.5 mg/kg versus saline infusion in adults with treatment-resistant depression; primary outcomes include central and peripheral GABA and glutamate changes and change in MADRS at 24 hours.

Started: March 1, 2025
Type: interventional
Blinding: triple
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT06668571

RecruitingPhase I

Investigation of Psychedelic Effects in Psychoactive Substances

Triple-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects study (n=50) testing whether various psychoactive substances (psilocybin, ketamine, DXM, DMT, MDMA, THC) produce experiences similar to classic psychedelics across up to six single-dose sessions.

Started: February 5, 2025
Type: interventional
Blinding: triple
Randomized: Yes
Registry ID: NCT06772753

Not yet recruitingPhase I

Integrating Ketamine Effects on Neuronal Molecular Signatures and the Brain Functional and Structural Connectome

Open-label, interventional mechanistic trial (n=120) using intravenous ketamine (0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes, max 60 mg; three alternate-day infusions in MDD participants) to study molecular and connectome correlates of rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects.

Started: January 1, 2025
Type: interventional
Blinding: none
Randomized: No
Registry ID: NCT06698848

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Ketamine for Neuroimaging & Brain Measures

Ketamine

Neuroimaging & Brain Measures

Academic Research

Effects of psychoplastogens on blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Functional imaging studies of acute administration of classic psychedelics, ketamine, and MDMA: Methodological limitations and convergent results

Effects of a dissociative drug on fronto-limbic resting-state functional connectivity in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot study

Functional connectivity of the amygdala and the antidepressant and antisuicidal effects of repeated ketamine infusions in major depressive disorder

Biomarkers of ketamine's antidepressant effect: An umbrella review

A unified model of ketamine’s dissociative and psychedelic properties

Clinical Trials

Ketamine and Neurofeedback as Combined Therapeutic Interventions to Target Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in Alcohol Use Disorder (Nektar)

Understanding and Treating Suicidal Ideation With Ketamine

Pilot Study: Establishing Glutamatergic Changes in Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine

Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression (G2K)

Investigation of Psychedelic Effects in Psychoactive Substances

Integrating Ketamine Effects on Neuronal Molecular Signatures and the Brain Functional and Structural Connectome

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