Glutamic acid is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. When released, it binds with the NMDA-receptor site to produce long-term potentiation (LTP).
LTP improves synaptic transmission by increasing the cell’s sensitivity to incoming signals, which allows for neuro-plasticity, learning and memory.
NMDA (N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid) is a synthetic amino acid, which acts as an agonist at the NMDA-receptor site .. mimicking the action of glutamic acid (excitatory).
Ketamine is an NMDA-receptor antagonist. It blocks the action of glutamic acid and acts as an analgesic at low doses. At high doses, ketamine produces a disassociative state, characterized by a sense of detachment from the physical body (depersonalization) and the external world (derealization). Users may experience what is called the “K-hole”, a period of dissociation and intense hallucinations where they experience other worlds or celestial-like dimensions ..while being completely unaware of their individual identities or the external world. Users have reported flying .. connecting to other users and objects in the cosmos ..and sharing hallucinations and thoughts with adjacent users. They feel as though their perceptions are located so deep inside the mind that the real world seems distant (hence the use of a “hole” to describe the experience).
Memory: Users do not remember the experience after regaining consciousness, in the same way that a person may forget a dream. Owing to the role of the NMDA receptor in long-term potentiation, this may be due to disturbances in memory formation. The ‘re-integration” process is slow, and the user gradually becomes aware of surroundings. At first, users may not remember their own names, or even know that they are human, or what that means. They may not be aware they have a body at all. Ketamine is also used with local anesthetics for its amnesia action. It effectively wipes out memory for the trauma associated with severe injury and surgery.
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