A new discovery has shed light on how our brains store memories, challenging previous assumptions about the role of neurons in learning and memory. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have found that astrocytes, star-shaped cells, play a crucial role in storing and retrieving memories. Astrocytes act as microscopic “brain stars” that interact closely with each other and with specific sets of neurons called engrams.
In an experiment using mouse models, the researchers found that activating certain subsets of astrocytes triggered fear conditioning and recall of specific memories. They also discovered that the activation of these astrocyte ensembles stimulates synaptic activity in corresponding neuron engrams, highlighting the two-way communication between astrocytes and neurons. The study’s findings have significant implications for understanding conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Source: https://newatlas.com/biology/brain-stars-memories