In this episode, I explain how ketamine causes rewiring of brain circuits and dissociative states to relieve symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I explain how ketamine impacts both the brain’s glutamate and its endogenous opioid pathways, which together regulate mood and well-being. I discuss how ketamine therapy is used clinically to treat major depression, bipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suicidality and other psychiatric challenges. I also describe how ketamine causes the subjective effects of dissociation and euphoria and, at higher doses, is an anesthetic. I compare the different routes of ketamine administration, dosages and forms of ketamine, and if micro-dosing ketamine is effective. I also highlight the potential risks of recreational ketamine use (and the colloquial term ‘K-holes’). This episode should interest anyone interested in ketamine, treatments for depression, neuroplasticity mechanisms, psychiatry and mental health.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

(00:00:00 ) Ketamine

(00:02:29 ) Sponsors: ROKA & Eight Sleep

(00:05:13 ) Ketamine & PCP; Clinical & Recreational Use

(00:09:00 ) Depression & Current Treatments

(00:15:17 ) Preclinical Models of Depression & Ketamine; “Learned Helplessness” 

(00:22:11 ) Ketamine & Clinical Uses; Depression & Suicidality 

(00:28:32 ) Ketamine & Other Psychiatric Challenges; Relief & Durability 

(00:33:24 ) Sponsor: AG1

(00:34:29 ) NMDA Receptor & Neuroplasticity

(00:41:36 ) Excitatory & Inhibitory Communication, Seizure, NMDA Receptors & Ketamine

(00:48:26 ) How Ketamine Functions in Brain; Acute & Long-Term Effects

(00:55:36 ) Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) & Ketamine Therapy

(01:02:28 ) Sponsor: LMNT

(01:03:40 ) Ketamine & Opioid Pathway 

(01:10:00 ) Divergent Mechanisms of Immediate & Long-Term Effects

(01:15:45 ) Habenula, Pro-Depressive Behaviors & Ketamine Therapy

(01:20:36 ) Ketamine & Context-Dependent Strategy; Reward Pathway

(01:22:45 ) Dissociative States

(01:26:04 ) Doses & Routes of Administration; “K-holes”; Risk & Caution

(01:32:25 ) Ketamine Forms; R-, S- vs R/S- Ketamine; Micro-Dosing

(01:38:24 ) Ketamine: Effects & Therapy

(01:40:40 ) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

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