One of the effects of ketamine is to:

Ketamine is known as a dissociative anesthetic that has several effects on the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. One of its notable characteristics is that it can indeed increase cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure, particularly in certain clinical scenarios. This effect is largely due to its ability to induce a state of dissociation along with maintaining hemodynamic stability, which contrasts with many other anesthetics that might decrease cerebral flow.

While ketamine has analgesic properties and can produce muscle relaxation, it is not primarily used for these effects, nor does it significantly enhance muscle relaxation compared to other agents. It typically does not cause a decrease in blood pressure; in fact, it can sometimes cause an increase in blood pressure due to its sympathetic stimulation effects. Moreover, ketamine does not characteristically reduce heart rate; it can have variable effects depending on the individual patient and the setting in which it is used.

The known effect of ketamine increasing cerebral blood flow and possibly raising intracranial pressure makes this choice the most fitting in terms of its pharmacological profile. Thus, understanding ketamine’s effects on cerebral dynamics is critical, especially in patients with pre-existing neurological issues or increased intracranial pressure.