Stress-related glutamate changes in the brain and ketamine for loss of pleasure
Glutamatergic adaptation to stress as a mechanism for anhedonia and treatment response with ketamine
This work looks at whether stress changes a brain chemical called glutamate in people with depression and whether ketamine can help reverse loss of pleasure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248777 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have glutamate levels measured in a brain area called the medial prefrontal cortex using MR spectroscopy before and after a short stress challenge, and those measurements would be compared with healthy volunteers. The team will link how glutamate responds to stress with symptoms of loss of pleasure and with expectations about future rewards. For people with depression, the project will examine whether a single ketamine treatment changes glutamate responses and improves motivation. Complementary animal experiments may be used to understand the biological mechanisms behind the human results.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with major depressive disorder who experience persistent loss of pleasure (anhedonia), and who meet safety criteria for MRI and potential ketamine treatment.
Not a fit: People without depression or anhedonia, those unable to undergo MRI, or those ineligible for ketamine are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to target glutamate or use ketamine to reduce anhedonia in people with depression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical and preclinical studies have shown rapid antidepressant and anti-anhedonic effects of ketamine, but linking stress-related glutamate changes measured by MR spectroscopy to treatment response is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Treadway, Michael Tilghman — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Treadway, Michael Tilghman
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 below.