Neurotransmitters 9: Glutamate

Are you interested in helping your students expand their learning and memory? It’s time to get excited about glutamate!

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter. Excitatory means it stimulates the neurons in our brain to fire. Glutamate plays a significant role in learning and memory as an excitatory neurotransmitter, making it more likely that the chemical messages in our brain will continue to move from nerve cell to nerve cell without disruption.

Healthy levels of glutamate provide energy for brain cells, help regulate mood, help control learning and memory, and promote a healthy sleep cycle – all of which support learning readiness in the classroom. Sounds great, right?!?

Here’s how you can help your students support healthy glutamate levels. Studies show that exercise has the potential to increase glutamate uptake in the brain. Adding mindful movement to your daily classroom routine is a great way to support healthy glutamate levels for yourself and your students, and summer break is a perfect time to practice to be classroom-ready in September!