AMPA is a specific agonist of the GluR (AMPA receptor), an ionotropic receptor that recognizes glutamate as its natural substrate. The AMPA receptor is described to mediate a large amount of excitatory neurotransmission processes, and agonism at the AMPA receptor produces neuronal excitation and current induction. AMPA is employed as a tool to identify participation of the AMPA receptor in a neuronal response and to distinguish between activity at the AMPA receptor and at the glutamate-recognizing NMDA and Kainic acid receptors.