Final answer:
Receptors for glutamate are involved in long-term potentiation (LTP), which is a process that strengthens synaptic connections to enable learning and memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The receptors involved in long-term potentiation (LTP) are primarily glutamate receptors. LTP is a crucial neural process where the synaptic connections between neurons become stronger, facilitating a greater response to stimuli. Two significant types of glutamate receptors are involved: NMDA (N-Methyl-D-aspartate) receptors and AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) receptors. NMDA receptors are usually blocked by magnesium ions but become permeable to calcium ions when the postsynaptic neuron is depolarized. This leads to the activation of AMPA receptors, which, when glutamate is released from the presynaptic neuron, allows more positive ions into the cell, making the postsynaptic neuron more likely to fire. The insertion of additional AMPA receptors into the postsynaptic membrane as a result of this signaling cascade is a key mechanism in strengthening synaptic transmission, thus forming the basis for learning and memory.