CoursePsychopharmacology Introduction

The drug-action atlas

Enter through a molecule, a synapse, or a brain circuit. Change the conditions and trace what happens next.

All learning models

Explore the system

The NMDA coincidence gate

Combine transmitter binding and membrane depolarization to explore calcium entry and plasticity.

The NMDA coincidence gate

Animate the diagram

On a small screen, pan the diagram or increase zoom. Named controls provide the same exploration by keyboard.

Sources and model limits

Original schematic. Positions show relationships; structures and concentrations are not to scale.

Julien's Primer of Drug Action · 15 · 2 · The NMDA coincidence gate · PDF 30 · 2.17
Professor deck 3 · NMDA activation conditions · PDF 32, 33, 34, 35

Diagram zoom

Mg²⁺ blocks the pore

Change one condition at a time and watch which gate remains closed.

Glutamate boundGlycine / D-serine co-agonist boundPostsynaptic membrane depolarizedSustained excessive activation