A major excitatory neurotransmitter; oversupply can overstimulate brain, producing migraines or seizures.

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Multiple Choice

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; oversupply can overstimulate brain, producing migraines or seizures.

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and it acts on receptors like NMDA and AMPA to promote neuronal firing. When glutamate levels rise too high, neurons become excessively depolarized, allowing large amounts of calcium to enter through NMDA receptors. This creates widespread neural hyperactivity and can lead to excitotoxicity, which underlies seizures. Glutamatergic activity is also linked to migraines, where waves of glutamate release can trigger spreading depolarization and headache. GABA, by contrast, is the primary inhibitory transmitter, so an excess would tend to dampen brain activity rather than provoke seizures. Dopamine and norepinephrine play modulatory roles in mood, motivation, and arousal, not the direct, widespread excitatory drive associated with migraines or seizures.

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and it acts on receptors like NMDA and AMPA to promote neuronal firing. When glutamate levels rise too high, neurons become excessively depolarized, allowing large amounts of calcium to enter through NMDA receptors. This creates widespread neural hyperactivity and can lead to excitotoxicity, which underlies seizures. Glutamatergic activity is also linked to migraines, where waves of glutamate release can trigger spreading depolarization and headache.

GABA, by contrast, is the primary inhibitory transmitter, so an excess would tend to dampen brain activity rather than provoke seizures. Dopamine and norepinephrine play modulatory roles in mood, motivation, and arousal, not the direct, widespread excitatory drive associated with migraines or seizures.

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