Tomi Rantamäki

My lab investigates neurobiological mechanisms underlying rapid antidepressant effects. We have recently revealed that diverse rapid-acting antidepressants evoke – after the acute pharmacological effects subside – an emergence of slow EEG activity (SWA) and concomitant regulation of plasticity-related molecular pathways (e.g. TrkB neurotrophin receptor) in adult rodents. These findings urge to focus on intrinsic homeostatic adaptations triggered within the brain in response to pharmacological or physiological “challenge” induced by rapid-acting antidepressants. Our recently formulated hypothesis called ENCORE-D explains rapid (and especially sustained) antidepressant effects beyond conventional pharmacology wherein sleep and its mechanisms are at the very center.