Normally, astrocytes uptake glutamate from the synaptic cleft to prevent neurotoxicity, but in schizophrenia, reduced expression of the glutamate transporters excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1) and excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) has been observed, leading to elevated extracellular glutamate concentrations and neuronal hyperexcitability (38–40). This evidence concerns the gene SLC1A2 and schizophrenia.