AMPA receptors

AMPA receptors are specialized proteins located on nerve cells (neurons) that play a key role in allowing electrical signals to pass between neurons. When a neuron releases a neurotransmitter called glutamate, AMPA receptors bind to it, opening channels that let positively charged ions flow into the cell. This ion flow causes the neuron to become more likely to fire its own electrical signal. AMPA receptors are crucial for fast synaptic communication, learning, and memory. They are one of the main types of receptors that respond quickly to glutamate, facilitating rapid signals within the brain and nervous system.