Astrocytes

from The Washington Post via MSN

Little-known cells might be key to human brain’s massive memory

by Erin Blakemore

Little-known cells might be key to human brain’s massive memory © Arthur Chien/Science Source

A new model of memory — and a little-heralded type of brain cell — might explain why the human brain has such a huge storage capacity, researchers reported in the journal PNAS in May. 

The study looks at astrocytes, star-shaped cells that interact with neurons in the brain.

The brain contains billions of astrocytes, and scientists have long known they play a part in cleaning up molecules within brain synapses, the junctions where neurons come together. 

More recent research, though, suggests that astrocytes do more. 

The new model suggests the astrocytes could also be used for computation, coordinating with neurons and connecting synapses in networks.

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