Andrew Huberman· PhD
it's clear there are multiple mechanisms involved and perhaps most importantly with ketamine it's that immediate relief that occurs day of or close to day of treatment and in the days afterwards and it's that long-term relief that very likely is is the consequence of nmda receptor suppression burst activity in neurons Within These mood related circuits bdnf being released and changing neural circuits strengthening them in order to give elevated mood as a consequence of that bursting activity and ketamine mimicking bdnf in other words ketamine acting more or less like a growth factor in the brain in order to make sure that whatever changes occur in those neural circuits to elevate mood are durable that they really are reinforced and last over time