In Science Advances, astrocytes were found to be potentially significant in the processing of information and even memorical processes in the brain.
Using a more sophisticated form of imaging, a team at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University were able to measure the signaling of astrocytes in a first of its kind method.
The findings may change the way we perceive astrocytes in neuroscience, including its role in important functions in the brain, such as how we move, think, and learn.
“Their findings, including ultra-fast signals on par with those seen in neurons and patterns of signaling activity that correspond to different behaviors, suggest that astrocytes may play a crucial role in many functions of our brain, including how we think, move, and learn,” a news release of the study says.
“If these implications are true, it will fundamentally transform how we think about neuroscience, and the way the brain works.”
