NMDA receptor regulation of memory and behavior in humans
Hippocampus October 1, 2001 John W. Newcomer, John H. Krystal 238 citations
Reduced activity of NMDA receptors in the brain, which can be experimentally induced by antagonist drugs, impairs memory by disrupting the encoding and consolidation of information into long-term storage. More severe NMDA receptor hypofunction produces symptoms resembling psychosis and dissociation, and sustained underactivation triggers a neurotoxic process with distinct neuropathological features. As the brain ages, NMDA receptor function naturally declines, contributing to age-related memory and learning deficits. Preventing NMDA receptor hypofunction or its downstream effects may offer therapeutic strategies for memory and behavioral dysfunction in neuropsychiatric conditions.