The NMDA receptor responds to its transmitters when ____.
A)magnesium is present in the membrane
B)enough sodium ions exit through AMPA channels
C)the membrane is already at least partly depolarized
D)the dendrite is depolarized enough to produce an action potential

Question

​The NMDA receptor responds to its transmitters when ____.
A)magnesium is present in the membrane
B)enough sodium ions exit through AMPA channels​
C)the membrane is already at least partly depolarized​
D)the dendrite is depolarized enough to produce an action potential​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The NMDA receptor requires the membrane to already be depolarized to some degree in order to respond to its transmitters. This is because the NMDA receptor channel is blocked by magnesium ions when the membrane is at rest, and it only opens when the membrane is sufficiently depolarized to displace the magnesium ion.

​The NMDA Receptor Responds to Its Transmitters When ____

The NMDA Receptor Responds to Its Transmitters When ____