Excitatory effects of GABA during ontogeny

Abstract

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory transmitter in the central nervous system. However, at the early stages of development, GABA has excitatory influences on immature neurons. This review presents contemporary views on the mechanisms of GABAergic excitation and the physiological role of excitatory GABA in generating patterns of network activity in the developing brain. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.