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Review
. 2021 Oct 29:15:722323.
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.722323. eCollection 2021.

Glutamate: The Master Neurotransmitter and Its Implications in Chronic Stress and Mood Disorders

Mia Michaela Pal  1
Affiliations
Review

Glutamate: The Master Neurotransmitter and Its Implications in Chronic Stress and Mood Disorders

Mia Michaela Pal. Front Hum Neurosci. .

Abstract

This brief review article makes the argument that glutamate is deserving of its newfound attention within the neuroscience literature and that many directions of important research have yet to be explored. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter with several types of receptors found throughout the central nervous system, and its metabolism is important to maintaining optimal levels within the extracellular space. As such, it is important to memory, cognition, and mood regulation. The mechanisms by which chronic stress affect the glutamatergic system and neuroplasticity are outlined. Several implications for potential pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions are discussed.

Keywords: GABA; NMDA–receptor; glutamate; long-term potentiation; neuroplasticity.

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Conflict of interest statement

MP is the Director at In Cognition UK, private clinic and sole author to the presented research. This research has been conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationship that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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