2024-02-23 16:52:00
Researchers at Osaka University found that low doses of ketamine can improve social impairments and depression by restoring functioning in a specific region of the brain known as the anterior insular cortex. (R)-Ketamine, a form of ketamine, is particularly effective in reversing the decrease in neuronal activation in the anterior insular cortex induced by chronic social isolation.
Mice treated with (R)-ketamine showed better social cognition, recognizing unfamiliar mice better than familiar ones in a social memory test. The positive effects of (R)-ketamine on social cognition depended on the restoration of neuronal activation in the anterior insular cortex.
The findings suggest that (R)-ketamine may be a promising treatment for isolation-induced social deficits, potentially improving the quality of life of people with associated disorders. Given the increasing rates of social isolation and depression, the study results have significant implications for addressing these social challenges.
The research paves the way for future research into the use of (R)-ketamine and its potential applications to improve social symptoms in clinical settings. Future studies could explore the translational implications of these findings for treatments and interventions in humans.
This study was recently published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry,
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