Plasticity
Unlike AMPA receptors, kainate receptors play only a minor role in signaling at synapses.
Rather, kainate receptors may have a more subtle role in synaptic plasticity, affecting the likelihood that the postsynaptic cell will fire in response to future stimulation. Activating kainate receptors in the presynaptic cell can affect the amount of neurotransmitters that are released This effect may occur quickly and last for a long time, and the effects of repetitive stimulation of KARs can be additive over time..
Read more about this topic: Kainate Receptor