Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that increases brain activity and plays a key role in learning and memory.
Related terms
Excitatory Neurotransmitter: A type of neurotransmitter, such as glutamate, that increases the likelihood of generating an action potential and promotes neuronal signaling.
NMDA Receptor: A receptor for glutamate that plays a key role in learning and memory formation when activated.
Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): This refers to a long-lasting increase in synaptic strength between two neurons resulting from their simultaneous activation. LTP is thought to be one mechanism by which memories are stored.