Star-shaped Cells In Brain Help With Learning

September 14, 2009 | Source: ScienceDaily

(Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology / Schorner, Klein & Paixao)

Astrocytes (star-shaped cells in the brain) play an essential role in communication between nerve cells by removing the transmitter molecule glutamate (to prevent it spilling over to another synapse), which enhances a synapse’s ability to strengthen connections, and thus improve learning and memory, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology scientists have found.

The new findings could also aid in the basic research of diseases such as epilepsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).