Network-level encoding of local neurotransmitters in cortical astrocytes. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38632406/)

These scientists wanted to understand how cells called astrocytes in our brain respond to signals from other cells called neurons. Astrocytes are very important in our brain because they help control how neurons communicate with each other. The scientists used special tools to watch the astrocytes in action both in the lab and in living animals. They simulated signals that neurons send to astrocytes using chemicals called GABA and glutamate.

What they found was that even a small signal from one neuron could cause a big response in many astrocytes in the brain. They also discovered that a specific type of response in the astrocytes could help determine how the brain reacts to different signals from neurons. This research shows that astrocytes play a big role in how our brain works and communicates with itself.

By understanding how astrocytes respond to signals from neurons, scientists can learn more about how our brain works and how different brain cells work together. This could help us understand more about how our brain controls things like thinking, feeling, and moving.

Cahill MK., Collard M., Tse V., Reitman ME., Etchenique R., Kirst C., Poskanzer KE. Network-level encoding of local neurotransmitters in cortical astrocytes. Nature. 2024 May;629(8010):146-153. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07311-5. Epub 2024 Apr 17.