The Role of NMDA Receptor Signaling in Learning and Memory and Neuropsychiatric Disorders
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cells of the Nervous System".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 4894
Special Issue Editors
2. Leibniz Group 'Dendritic Organelles and Synaptic Function', University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), 20251 Hamburg, Germany
3. German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
4. Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
Interests: synapse biology; synapse-to-nucleus communication; membrane trafficking; neuronal calcium signaling; NMDA-receptors; dementia; neurodegeneration; neuropsychiatric disorders
2. Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
Interests: neuropsychiatric diseases; neuropeptides; NMDA receptor; amygdala; prefrontal cortex; behavioral pharmacology; neuropharmacology; fear; anxiety; schizophrenia
2. Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
Interests: synapse biology; NMDA receptors; long-distance protein transport; activity-dependent gene expression; membrane trafficking; activity-regulated autophagy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
NMDA receptor signalling is crucial for neuronal function and plays an important role in synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, and cognition. This role of NMDA receptor signalling is based on unique properties of the NMDA receptor including (i) that the opening of the cation channel requires the presence of a co-agonist and depolarization of the postsynaptic neurons, either by other additional excitatory inputs or by the repetitive firing of the presynaptic neuron, and (ii) that the channel allows Ca++ influx which then activates several signalling cascades. The NMDA receptor signalling complex constitutes the machinery for synaptic plasticity including long-term potentiation or long-term depression – important cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory.
The NMDA receptor constitutes a larger signalling hub and dysfunctional NMDA receptor signalling has been shown for several neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, or intellectual disability, as well as for neurophysiological and behavioral endophenotypes associated with these disorders. Both, exaggerated and impaired NMDA receptor signalling affects the functionality and survival of neurons critically. Via the Ras-ERK1/2 and CaM/CaMKII pathways, synaptic NMDA receptors can activate CREB which promotes synaptic plasticity and survival of the neurons, while extra-synaptic NMDA receptors are coupled to neurodegenerative pathways. A proper balance between these two receptor types with their respective signalling pathways is crucial for normal neuronal functioning and shifts in these balance are believed to be an important factor in the development of different disorders.
The aims of the special issue “The Role of NMDA Receptor Signaling in Brain Plasticity and Neuropsychiatric Disorders” are to present recent advances in the research on NMDA receptor signalling with a special focus on its role in brain plasticity and neuropsychiatric diseases, as well as to provide a summary of this research field. We invite authors to contribute with original research and review articles on each of these aspects.
Dr. Michael R. Kreutz
Prof. Dr. Markus Fendt
Dr. Anna V. Karpova
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- learning
- memory
- NMDA receptor
- neuropsychiatric disorders
- plasticity
- signaling pathways
