glutamate

(noun)

An important neurotransmitter that plays a key role in long-term potentiation and is important for learning and memory.

Related Terms

Examples of glutamate in the following topics:

  • Neurotransmitters

    • Another group of neurotransmitters are amino acids, including glutamate (Glu), GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, a derivative of glutamate), and glycine (Gly).
    • Glutamate is one of the 20 amino acids used to make proteins.
    • The amino acid neurotransmitters (glutamate, glycine, and GABA) are almost exclusively associated with just one effect.
    • Glutamate is considered an excitatory amino acid because Glu receptors in the adult cause depolarization of the postsynaptic cell.
    • On the other hand, when an excess of the neurotransmitter dopamine blocks glutamate receptors, disorders like schizophrenia can occur.

  • Hallucinogens

    • Hallucinogens affect the levels of serotonin or glutamate in the brain and are divided into psychedelics, dissociatives, and deleriants.
    • Primary dissociatives are NMDA antagonists, which block glutamate from entering its receptors and regulating brain function.
    • PCP (or angel dust), a dissociative, prevents the actions normally caused when a neurotransmitter called glutamate is able to attach to its receptor in the brain.

  • Other Steps

    • Two conditions must be present for NMDA receptors to activate - (1) glutamate needs to be released and bound to the NMDA receptor site, and (2) excitation must take place in postsynaptic neurons.

  • Introduction to Anxiety Disorders

    • Low levels of GABA (a neurotransmitter in the brain that reduces central nervous system activity) can contribute to anxiety, and serotonin, glutamate, and the 5-Ht2A receptor have also all been implicated in the development of anxiety disorders.

  • Etiology of Schizophrenia

    • Seratonin and glutamate have also been linked with schizophrenia.
    • Glutamate has been theorized to exacerbate hyperactivity and hypoactivity in dopamine pathways, affecting both positive and negative symptoms.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

    • Studies have implicated about two dozen potential genes that may be involved in OCD; these genes regulate the function of three neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate (Pauls, 2010).

  • Gustation: Taste Buds and Taste

    • We do know that umami detects glutamates that are common in meats, cheese, and other protein-heavy foods and reacts specifically to foods treated with MSG.