Glutamate is the most common neurotransmitter in the brain, and works to open up some of the main channels of communication between cells. These channels allow calcium to flow into cells, which activates them and allows the chemical encoding of engrams, enabling us to generate and access the networks of information required for complex memories. Thus, our brains release glutamate as part of the chemical process that underlies memory formation. This glutamate mainly remains in the brain until it is processed and drained when we sleep. But while we need glutamate to make memories, too much of it
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