Astrocytes

Scientists reveal sex-specific cognitive effects of astrocyte receptors

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Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine have discovered groundbreaking evidence that astrocyte receptors can have opposite effects on cognitive function in male and female preclinical models. This finding highlights the significant role of astrocytes—brain cells that support and regulate neurons—in sex-specific brain mechanisms. Traditionally, studies have focused on the behavioral effects of astrocytic receptors, predominantly in … Read more

Study links specific astrocytes to regulation of behaviors associated with neuropsychiatric disorders

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UCLA Health researchers have discovered a group of specialized support cells in the brain that can regulate behaviors associated with human neuropsychiatric disorders. The study, published in the journal Nature, focused on a group of cells known as astrocytes—star-shaped cells that tile the central nervous system and provide a support structure for the neural communication … Read more