A new machine learning model shows that star-shaped brain cells may be responsible for the brain's memory capacity, and someday, it could inspire advances in AI and Alzheimer's research.

Little-known cells might be key to human brain’s massive memory A new model suggests that astrocytes might be used in computation, coordinating with neurons and connecting synapses in networks.

Astrocytes are star shaped cells that make up around 35% of human brain cells. They were once thought of as cells that simply supported neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). But in recent years ...

Abstract Astrocytes, the most abundant type of glial cell, play a fundamental role in memory. Despite most hippocampal synapses being contacted by an astrocyte, there are no current theories that ...

Astrocytes, the star-shaped glial cells known for providing structural and metabolic support to neurons, may actually have a role in the mechanisms underlying depression. Image credit: JOSE ...

From biological and artificial network perspectives, researchers have started acknowledging astrocytes as computational units mediating neural processes. Here, we propose a novel biologically inspired ...

In astrocytes, there exists an intrinsic spatial threshold of subcellular calcium levels that triggers an astrocyte calcium surge throughout the cell, demonstrating cellular astrocyte calcium ...

Tweaking non-neural brain cells can cause memories to fade Neurons and a second cell type called an astrocyte collaborate to hold memories.

Astrocytes, critical brain cells, are often lost in neurodegenerative diseases, but recent research highlights the promise of astrocyte transplantation to restore brain function.