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A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
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Ketamine can reduce harmful drinking by pharmacologically rewriting drinking memories
Ravi K Das1, Grace Gale2, Katie Walsh2
1Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK. ravi.das@ucl.ac.uk.
Nature Communications
|November 28, 2019
Summary
Ketamine can disrupt maladaptive reward memories (MRMs) in hazardous drinkers when given after memory retrieval. This approach reduced alcohol
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Maladaptive reward memories (MRMs) drive overconsumption disorders like alcohol and drug use.
- Memory reconsolidation, a process of memory stabilization after retrieval, offers a potential target for disrupting MRMs.
- Current pharmacological methods for weakening human MRMs are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if ketamine can disrupt MRMs in hazardous drinkers.
- To assess the efficacy of ketamine administration during memory reconsolidation for reducing alcohol consumption.
- To explore the relationship between ketamine concentrations and treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent retrieval of alcohol-related MRMs.
- Ketamine was administered immediately after MRM retrieval in a subset of participants (RET+KET).
- Control groups received ketamine alone or retrieval alone.
- Alcohol reinforcement and drinking levels were assessed post-intervention.
Main Results:
- The RET+KET group showed significantly reduced alcohol reinforcement and long-term drinking levels compared to controls.
- Ketamine administration during the reconsolidation window, specifically after MRM reactivation, was crucial for beneficial effects.
- Ketamine and metabolite blood concentrations predicted positive changes only when MRMs were reactivated.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacological interference with memory reconsolidation using ketamine is a promising strategy for disrupting MRMs.
- This approach may offer a novel therapeutic avenue for treating alcohol and drug use disorders.
- Further research is warranted to optimize and validate this method for addiction treatment.
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