MAPK3 and schizophrenia: In particular, ERK1/2 signaling is involved in NMDA receptors downstream processes, and plays a pivotal role in the integration of neurotransmission events, the regulation of synaptic plasticity, and cognitive functions (Sun and Nan 2017; Albert-Gascó et al., 2020), while preclinical and post-mortem studies associate abnormal ERK signaling with schizophrenia manifestation (Kyosseva 2003).