Excitatory neurotransmitters are super important for helping us learn and remember things. Let’s break down how they work in a way that's easy to understand.

These neurotransmitters help brain cells, called neurons, talk to each other better. Two common types of excitatory neurotransmitters are:

• Glutamate: This is the most common one in the brain. It helps neurons communicate, making it easier for them to send signals. This is really important for learning and memory.
• Aspartate: This one works like glutamate and also helps strengthen the connections between neurons.

Here’s how these neurotransmitters help with learning and remembering:

1. Strengthening Connections: When we learn something new, our brain releases excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate. This makes the connections between neurons stronger. You might have heard the saying, "cells that fire together, wire together." This means that the more we use certain pathways in our brain, the stronger those connections become.

2. Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): This is a fancy term that means the strength of these connections gets stronger over time, especially when we keep practicing. Think of it as giving your brain a workout! Studies show that LTP is very important for making new memories.

3. Feeling Rewarded: Many of these pathways are connected to our brain's reward system. When you learn something successfully, excitatory neurotransmitters are released, making you feel happy and satisfied. This feeling helps you remember what you learned even better.

In short, excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate help build the strong connections we need for learning and memory. Imagine your brain as a series of pathways that light up more and more as you learn new things!