Ionotropic glutamate receptors, a family of ligand gated ion channels, are located in the post-synaptic neural membrane and play important roles in the majority of fast excitatory neurotransmissions in the central nervous system. This family is comprised of three different subfamilies that each serve distinct roles at glutamatergic synapses. AMPA receptors mediate fast depolarization, NMDA receptors mediate the slower component of the excitatory postsynaptic potential, and kainate receptors have a major fast modulatory role at both presynaptic and postsynaptic sites.