AMPA receptors (IMAGE)

NIH/National Institute of Mental Health

AMPA receptors

Caption

Newly synthesized AMPA glutamate receptors (green) were captured by mushroom-shaped spines in mouse hippocampus neurons encoding memory, after one (left), two (middle) and six (right) hours of fear conditioning. The receptors are thought to be key to strengthening the memory, making it long-term. The same green fluorescent protein that makes fireflies glow was genetically inserted into the receptors to reveal their destinations in the brain.

Credit

Source: Drs. Mark Mayford and Naoki Matsuo, Scripps Research Institute

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