Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have studied how memories are stored and recalled in the brain.

Memory strongly depends on the activity of neurons, which are nerve cells responsible for sending and receiving signals in the brain. However, this research reveals that astrocytes, another type of brain cell known for their star-like shape, also play a crucial role in memory processes.

Neurons form networks called engrams, which are groups of cells that become active during learning and hold memories. When the brain learns something, these neurons light up, forming a memory trace.

This study shows that astrocytes, though not directly firing electrical signals like neurons, are also integral in memory storage and recall. They interact closely with neurons, both physically by being near them and functionally by influencing their activity. During learning, specific astrocytes start expressing a gene called c-Fos, which signals that these cells participate in the memory circuit at that moment.

A paper published in Nature describes the study’s methods and results.

Understanding memory and treating memory-related disorders

The researchers trained mice to feel fear in a specific situation, causing them to freeze when they encountered that context again. They developed new tools to observe and manipulate astrocytes. They found that activating these special astrocytes could trigger the memory of fear, making mice freeze even in a different, non-threatening environment.

The study also explored the role of a protein called NFIA in astrocytes. Astrocytes involved in memory have higher amounts of NFIA. After blocking the production of NFIA in these astrocytes, the mice could not recall the memory they were supposed to fear. This shows that NFIA is essential for memory recall in astrocytes.

This research suggests that memory involves a dynamic interaction between neurons and astrocytes.

This could lead to new approaches in understanding and treating memory-related disorders like Alzheimer’s, where there’s not enough memory recall, or PTSD, where there’s too much memory recall. By recognizing the role of astrocytes, scientists now have a more complex picture of how the brain handles memory, opening up new avenues for research and potential therapies.

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