The Impact of Local Ketamine on Spatial Cognition Through Dopamine

Abstract

The dopamine system plays a crucial role in maintaining spatial cognitive functions. Ketamine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, indirectly affects dopamine release and function by modulating glutamatergic neuronal activity, leading to spatial cognitive impairments. This study aims to explore the specific mechanisms through which local ketamine administration affects spatial cognition. By injecting ketamine into the hippocampus of mice and combining behavioral experiments with brain tissue analysis, we found that ketamine-induced dopamine damage significantly impairs the mice’s spatial orientation abilities. This discovery offers new insights into the negative impact of ketamine addiction on cognitive function.