About the Guest: Christian Lüscher, MD, PhD, a neuroscientist & neurologist at the University of Geneva whose lab studies the cellular mechanisms that underlie drug reinforcement, dependence and addiction.
Episode Summary: Nick talks to Dr. Christian Lüscher about the nature of addictive drugs in the brain, how ketamine works, and the latest research from his lab look at how ketamine's unique effects within the brain's reward circuitry enable it to be psychoactive & reinforcing, but have a very low addiction liability (in rodents). He also discusses what this research may mean for the use of ketamine as a therapeutic treatment for depression in humans.
Relevant Links:
Audio Clip: