NMDA receptor 
(ĕn′ĕm′dē′ā)
(ĕn′ĕm′dē′ā)n.
A brain receptor activated by glutamate, which when excessively stimulated may cause cognitive defects in Alzheimer's disease.
[N-m(ethyl)-d-a(spartate), an amino acid derivative that binds selectively to the receptor.]