Ketogenic Diet Promotes Reward Learning by Upregulating Hippocampal CAMK2A Expression and Activating Dopamine Synaptic Signaling

reversed the pro-reward effects of KD, as measured by the sucrose preference test and conditioned place preference test, without impairing general locomotor activity in the open field test. Together, these results suggest a novel BHB-CAMK2A-dopaminergic signaling axis through which KD enhances reward learning, thus bridging systemic metabolism with cognitive function and expanding our understanding of KD-mediated neuromodulation.