Modeling Effort-Based Decision Making in Major Depressive Disorder Following Ketamine Administration

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Anhedonia, a reduced ability to experience pleasure and lack of motivation, is a primary symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and often unresponsive to treatment. There is, however, evidence that ketamine has rapid-acting anti-anhedonic properties. To investigate mechanisms driving this effect, we examined how ketamine affects effort-based decision making. Since anhedonia has been associated with high subjective effort sensitivity, we predicted ketamine would decrease perceived effort costs in obtaining rewards.