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astrocytes

·July 26, 2025·7 min read

How Astrocytes Keep Neural Teams in Sync

Astrocytes, long overshadowed by neurons, are proving vital to how the brain processes information. A new study shows that astrocytes use a protein called Gat3 to manage ambient GABA levels, helping neurons work together to encode visual input.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 22, 2025·6 min read

Synaptic Tau and Astrocytes Drive PSP Progression

ew research uncovers how tau pathology spreads and damages synapses in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Using human postmortem tissue and live brain slice models, scientists showed tau accumulates in both pre- and postsynaptic terminals, likely propagating neuron-to-neuron.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 8, 2025·6 min read

Astrocytes Take the Lead: Hidden Stars of Brain Rhythms Revealed

New research highlights how astrocytes, long considered mere support cells, actively shape brain network dynamics. Using computational models and machine learning, researchers showed astrocytes fine-tune synchronized neural activity crucial for memory, attention, and sleep.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 7, 2025·3 min read

Astrocytes in Obesity: Brain Cells That Control Metabolism & Cognition

A new study reveals that astrocytes, star-shaped brain cells in the striatum, are key players in how obesity alters brain function and metabolism. Researchers showed that manipulating astrocyte activity in obese mice improved their cognitive flexibility and metabolic regulation.

This shows a person on a treadmill and neurons.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·June 13, 2025·5 min read

Exercise Rewires Alzheimer’s-Affected Brain Cells

Using cutting-edge RNA sequencing, researchers mapped how exercise affects specific brain cell types in a model of Alzheimer’s disease. They found that physical activity alters gene activity in microglia and a newly identified type of astrocyte linked to blood vessels, which may protect memory.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 29, 2025·8 min read

Astrocytes May Hold the Key to Brain’s Vast Memory Capacity

New research proposes that astrocytes—long thought to be merely supportive cells—may significantly enhance the brain’s ability to store memories. Unlike neurons, astrocytes cannot fire electrical signals but can influence synaptic activity through calcium signaling and gliotransmitters.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 16, 2025·6 min read

Astrocytes Control Behavior Through Slow Brain Signaling

Astrocytes, once thought to be mere support cells, are now shown to play a leading role in regulating behavior by modulating neuronal activity through slow biochemical circuits. In zebrafish, researchers discovered that astrocytes respond to norepinephrine by releasing ATP, which is then broken down into adenosine—an important neuromodulator that signals neurons to stop swimming when progress is futile.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 16, 2025·6 min read

Astrocytes Take Center Stage in Brain Function and Behavior

Long thought to be mere support cells, astrocytes are now shown to play a powerful, dynamic role in regulating brain function and behavior. New research in fruit flies and rodents reveals that astrocytes don’t just support neurons—they selectively respond to neurotransmitters and influence which neural signals are prioritized.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 16, 2025·4 min read

Astrocytes, Not Neurons, Drive Brain’s Attention and Alertness

For nearly a century, scientists believed that neuromodulators like norepinephrine adjusted brain communication by acting directly on neurons. A new study overturns this long-held view, revealing that astrocytes—support cells long considered secondary—are the key intermediaries.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 7, 2025·4 min read

Unlocking Spinal Cord Regeneration: Astrocytes Lead the Way

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are challenging to treat due to the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system. A new study reveals that while ependymal cells in the spinal cord show minimal repair potential, astrocytes can transdifferentiate into oligodendrocytes, aiding in remyelination.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 6, 2024·4 min read

Astrocytes Hold the Key to Stress Response Regulation

Astrocytes, previously known for supporting nerve cells, have been identified as key regulators of stress responses in the lateral septum of the brain. Researchers demonstrated that astrocytes release adenosine to suppress nearby nerve activity when exposed to stress-inducing stimuli. This groundbreaking finding reveals that astrocytes interact dynamically with neurons to influence fear, anxiety, and social behaviors, varying based on the stress type and brain region.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 3, 2024·5 min read

Cannabis Impacts Brain Plasticity via Astrocyte Receptors

Researchers discovered that cannabis affects brain development by interacting with CB1 receptors on astrocytes, not just neurons. Using a mouse model, they showed that removing these receptors impaired the brain’s ability to adapt during critical periods of plasticity, particularly in the visual cortex.

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astrocytes

How Astrocytes Keep Neural Teams in Sync

Synaptic Tau and Astrocytes Drive PSP Progression

Astrocytes Take the Lead: Hidden Stars of Brain Rhythms Revealed

Astrocytes in Obesity: Brain Cells That Control Metabolism & Cognition

Exercise Rewires Alzheimer’s-Affected Brain Cells

Astrocytes May Hold the Key to Brain’s Vast Memory Capacity

Astrocytes Control Behavior Through Slow Brain Signaling

Astrocytes Take Center Stage in Brain Function and Behavior

Astrocytes, Not Neurons, Drive Brain’s Attention and Alertness

Unlocking Spinal Cord Regeneration: Astrocytes Lead the Way

Astrocytes Hold the Key to Stress Response Regulation

Cannabis Impacts Brain Plasticity via Astrocyte Receptors

AI Intelligence Is Not Consciousness

Autism Mutations Converge on Shared Early Brain Pathways

Rotating Spiral Brain Waves Act as a Space-and-Time Clock

Childhood mRNA Cancer Vaccine Reduces Tumors by 70%

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