Ketamine changes brain signal patterns in major depression, which may relate to brain excitation-inhibition balance and help predict treatment response

The aperiodic exponent (1/f slope) of EEG power spectra may serve as a non-invasive marker for treatment outcomes in treatment-resistant depression.

• Ketamine is considered a rapid-acting antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression.
• The mechanisms underlying ketamine's effects are not well understood.
• Cortical excitation-inhibition balance may be reflected in the aperiodic exponent of EEG power spectra.
• This suggests that EEG measures could provide insights into treatment response.

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