In developing hippocampal neurons, NR2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) can mediate signaling to neuronal survival and synaptic potentiation, as well as neuronal death

Therefore, within a single neuron, NR2B-NMDA receptors are able to mediate both survival and death signaling, as well as model of NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic potentiation. In this instance, subunit differences cannot account for the dichotomous nature of NMDA receptor signaling.