The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
Ketamine: Benefits and Risks for Depression, PTSD & Neuroplasticity
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
(00:15:45) 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