Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...

Long-term Depression

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...

Long-term Depression

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Membrane and bioenergetic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease with REM sleep behavior disorder: A <sup>31</sup>P and <sup>1</sup>H MR study.

NeuroImage·2026

Same author

Midbrain Energy Homeostasis Biomarker for Differential Diagnosis of Early-Stage Parkinson Disease: A <sup>1</sup>H and <sup>31</sup>P MRI Study.

Radiology·2026

Same author

The genetic landscape of human functional brain connectivity.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Structural Fiber Tract Alterations in Relation to Surgery in Children With a Posterior Fossa Tumor.

NMR in biomedicine·2026

Same author

<sup>31</sup>P-MRS of the Human Heart at 7 T With an Integrated Whole-Body <sup>31</sup>P Radiofrequency Transmit Coil.

NMR in biomedicine·2026

Same author

Rare-variant aggregation highlights disease-linked genes associated with brain volume variation.

American journal of human genetics·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Single Synapse Indicators of Glutamate Release and Uptake in Acute Brain Slices from Normal and Huntington Mice

Single Synapse Indicators of Glutamate Release and Uptake in Acute Brain Slices from Normal and Huntington Mice

Published on: March 11, 2020

Glutamate changes in healthy young adulthood.

Anouk Marsman¹, René C W Mandl, Martijn P van den Heuvel

¹Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.

European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology

|December 19, 2012

Summary

In healthy young adults, brain glutamate levels decrease with age, potentially due to physiological changes rather than anatomical ones. This finding is crucial for understanding cognitive function changes over time.

Keywords:

Aging Glutamate Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

More Related Videos

Using Enzyme-based Biosensors to Measure Tonic and Phasic Glutamate in Alzheimer's Mouse Models

Using Enzyme-based Biosensors to Measure Tonic and Phasic Glutamate in Alzheimer's Mouse Models

Published on: May 3, 2017

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Published on: March 23, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Single Synapse Indicators of Glutamate Release and Uptake in Acute Brain Slices from Normal and Huntington Mice

Single Synapse Indicators of Glutamate Release and Uptake in Acute Brain Slices from Normal and Huntington Mice

Published on: March 11, 2020

Using Enzyme-based Biosensors to Measure Tonic and Phasic Glutamate in Alzheimer's Mouse Models

Using Enzyme-based Biosensors to Measure Tonic and Phasic Glutamate in Alzheimer's Mouse Models

Published on: May 3, 2017

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Published on: March 23, 2011

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neuroimaging
Human Aging Research

Background:

Glutamate is a key excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, vital for cognitive functions.
Age-related alterations in glutamate levels have been observed in various brain regions across species.
The medial frontal cortex is implicated in cognitive processes affected by aging.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate age-associated changes in glutamate concentrations within the medial frontal cortex of healthy young adults.
To determine the relationship between glutamate levels, grey matter volume, and white matter volume in this demographic.

Main Methods:

Utilized ultra-high field (7 Tesla) proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) for precise measurements.
Employed brain imaging techniques in a cross-sectional study of 33 healthy participants aged 18-31.
Analyzed glutamate concentrations and cortical volumes within a defined 2 × 2 × 2 cm(3) voxel.

Main Results:

Successfully quantified glutamate concentrations and grey/white matter volumes using 7 T (1)H-MRS.
Observed a significant decline in glutamate concentrations with increasing age in young adults (0.33 mM/year).
The age-related glutamate decrease correlated with grey matter thinning but was not solely explained by it.

Conclusions:

Glutamate levels in the medial frontal cortex decrease during young adulthood, suggesting age-related physiological changes.
These findings indicate that neurochemical alterations, not just structural changes, contribute to aging effects on the brain.
Further research is needed to elucidate the specific physiological mechanisms driving this glutamate decline.