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NMDA Receptor Positive Allosteric

Meaning

A compound, such as an endogenous neurosteroid or a pharmacological agent, that binds to an allosteric site on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, which is separate from the primary glutamate binding site, resulting in a conformational change that increases the receptor’s sensitivity to its natural ligands. This positive allosteric modulation enhances the influx of calcium ions into the neuron, thereby facilitating glutamatergic neurotransmission, a process crucial for synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory formation. This action represents a powerful mechanism for cognitive enhancement and neuroprotection.