Recruiting
Early Phase 1

Ketamine & Propofol

Sponsor:

Keith M Vogt

Code:

NCT07294092

Conditions

Anesthesia

Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 59

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Propofol

Ketamine

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Study Details

Brief summary:

This is a multi-visit which will collect MRI (pictures of the brain) and EEG (brain waves) data to determine changes in brain connectivity and brain activity for memory formation and pain perception while receiving the commonly-used anesthetic agents ketamine and propofol, both alone and in combination.

Conditions

Anesthesia

Pain

Study ID

NCT07294092

Start date

Apr 10, 2026

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Aug 2, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 1, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 59

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults 18-59 years of age, who:
  • have none of the specific exclusion criteria
  • have a valid email address and valid phone number throughout the study
  • free from any non-MRI compatible implants

Exclusion Criteria:

  • are pregnant or attempting to conceive
  • body mass index (BMI) > 35
  • significant memory impairment or hearing loss
  • sleep apnea
  • chronic pain or frequently taking pain medication
  • chronic medical conditions requiring treatment (hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol)
  • neurologic disease, including seizures and tremor
  • psychiatric diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, panic, or PTSD
  • a history of any of these medical conditions: abnormal heartbeats (cardiac conduction abnormality or arrhythmia), liver or kidney disease, or significant lung disease
  • severe claustrophobia or intolerance of an MRI
  • have metal implants or non-removable metal piercings
  • having a history of adverse reaction to ketamine or propofol
  • daily alcohol or heavy alcohol use; history of alcohol abuse
  • current daily smoker
  • regular or recent marijuana use (including prescribed/medical marijuana)
  • illicit drug use, i.e., street drugs
  • regularly taking: antiepileptics, antidepressants, anti-psychotics, antihistamines, anti-anxiety medication, stimulants, or sleep-aids

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Propofol, followed by propofol+ketamine (given at first visit)

  • Propofol, followed by propofol+ketamine at Visit 1
  • Ketamine, followed by ketamine+propofol at Visit 3
  • Propofol, followed by propofol+ketamine at Visit 5
  • Ketamine, followed by ketamine+propofol at Visit 7

EEG will be done at either visits 1 and 3 or 5 and 7; fMRI will be done at the other two (non-EEG) visits.

experimental: Ketamine, followed by ketamine+propofol (given at first visit)

  • Ketamine, followed by ketamine+propofol at Visit 1
  • Propofol, followed by propofol+ketamine at Visit 3
  • Ketamine, followed by ketamine+propofol at Visit 5
  • Propofol, followed by propofol+ketamine at Visit 7

EEG will be done at either visits 1 and 3 or 5 and 7; fMRI will be done at the other two (non-EEG) visits.

Interventions

Propofol

Subjects will receive an intravenous infusion of this drug, during portions of the study.

Ketamine

Subjects will receive an intravenous infusion of this drug, during portions of the study.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Experimental acute pain stimulus will be delivered using a nerve stimulator. These painful shocks will be paired with specific experimental events.

Primary outcome measure

  • Explicit Memory Performance, comparing single-drug to drug-combination condition [ Time Frame: Visits 2, 4, 6, and 8. Visits spaced at least 1 week apart, are 1 hour in length, and are 12-36 hours after the preceding visit (1, 3, 5, and 7). ]
  • Pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings, comparing single-drug to drug-combination condition [ Time Frame: Visits 1, 3, 5, and 7: immediately following each experimental condition. These visits are 3 hours in length and spaced at least 1 week apart. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Keith M Vogt, MD, PhD

4126473147kev18@pitt.edu

Locations

University of Pittsburgh

Recruiting

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213

Contacts

Keith M Vogt, MD, PhD

4126473147kev18@pitt.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Keith M Vogt

Last update posted

May 19, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Propofol
  • Ketamine
  • functional MRI
  • electric nerve stimulation
  • sedation
  • functional connectivity

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Keith M Vogt on 2026-05-19.