Ketamine’s antidepressant effects are grounded in well-established neuroscience. It works by blocking NMDA receptors, which alters how the brain processes glutamate—a neurotransmitter critical for learning, memory, and mood regulation.

Chronic stress and depression have been shown to break down the brain's communication network, causing patients to feel stuck in negative thought loops and patterns. By boosting glutamate signaling, ketamine can promote neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections and adapt over time. It can also encourage thr growth of new synapses to support more flexible and resilient thinking. In practice, this means a patient can reframe their experiences, build resilience to stress and triggers, and shift their perspectives.

One key result of this process is the increase of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein that supports the growth and repair of brain cells. Low BDNF levels have been linked to depression and chronic stress, which can weaken the brain’s connectivity in areas responsible for mood and decision-making.

These brain-level changes help explain why many people report not just temporary symptom relief, but a meaningful shift in perspective that can last beyond treatment. Ketamine treatment seems to create a window of emotional openness and mental clarity, allowing individuals to revisit difficult thoughts or memories with greater calm and distance. In psychology, this is known as an increased "window of tolerance," and can be a powerful tool in emotional processing for deeper change instead of masking symptoms or "emotional numbing".