Ketamine's effects on anhedonia and anxiety in depression explored with ultra-high-field brain imaging
Official title: Neural Circuit-Specific Mechanisms of Ketamine's Effect on Anhedonia and Anxiety in Depression Using Ultra-High Field 7-Tesla MRI
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11311804 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how specific brain circuits relate to anhedonia and anxiety in adults with depression using ultra-high-field MRI and ketamine-related insights.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 21, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $765,927 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH134045-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311804 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years or older with active follow-up for depression and related symptoms, particularly those experiencing anhedonia and anxiety.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without depression or without symptoms of anhedonia or anxiety may not benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
This project aims to map how dysfunction in a targeted brain circuit within the sgACC relates to symptoms like anhedonia and anxiety in people with depression. By translating findings from animal studies in marmosets to humans, the study will examine circuit-specific responses to ketamine and how they might reverse certain behavioral deficits. Using advanced 7-Tesla MRI, the team will probe subcircuits within BA25 to understand their role in hedonic and arousal processes. The study builds a bridge between basic neuroscience and potential clinical implications for personalized treatments in depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could guide more precise brain-targeted therapies for reducing anhedonia and anxiety in depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous cross-species work suggests conserved brain circuits; this study seeks to extend those findings to human patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Murrough, James Warren — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Murrough, James Warren
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how ketamine affects depression-related symptoms using advanced MRI technology
This study is looking at how ketamine helps people with depression feel better, especially when it comes to feeling joy and managing anxiety, by using advanced brain scans to see how certain parts of the brain work in adults with depression.
-
Ketamine-assisted care plan to help Veterans with chronic back pain and depression
A program for Veterans with chronic low back pain and depression that uses ketamine infusions followed by a brief narrative therapy to sustain relief from pain and mood improvement.
-
Ketamine to reduce postpartum depression and pain after cesarean delivery
This grant explores a ketamine approach to help new mothers after cesarean delivery feel better sooner and with less pain.
-
Environmental and psychological stressors shaping anxiety, depression, and alcohol-related health issues in people with HIV
A patient-facing overview of how stress, mental health, and alcohol use interact with HIV to influence health and aging in people living with HIV.
-
Screening, Tracking and Treatment for Anxiety and Depression in Community Colleges
A scalable, student-centered program at community colleges helps students screen for anxiety and depression, track progress, and access appropriate care.
-
Modeling how early caregiver responses shape brain development linked to anxiety and depression in young children
A study in 0-11 year olds explores how negative emotions and caregiver reactions influence developing brain networks tied to emotion, attention, and self-regulation, with the aim of understanding pathways to anxiety and depression.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.