Glial cells can improve the perception of pain-induced decision-making.

Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Science and Technology Cooperation is one of the important symbols of science and technology construction in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. in
to fully integrate innovative resources in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ("Shenzhen Advanced Institute") has established a stable cooperative relationship with the Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Disease and the City University of Hong Kong.
wang Liping and Li' team, from Shenzhen and Hong Kong, have been working together for several years, and recently, the two sides have made new progress in regulating the cognitive impairment mechanism caused by pain caused by glial cells in the brain.
results are published in Cell Reports, a professional journal in the field of international biology.
decision-making is one of the most basic cognitive functions of the brain, and many brain diseases can lead to cognitive impairment in decision-making.
clinically found that many chronic diseases, such as chronic pain, can seriously damage this function of the brain.
therefore, finding nerve cells and molecular targets that cause decision-making impairments from chronic pain has always been the expectation of neuroscientists.
glial cells, accounting for more than 90% of nerve cells in the brain, the classical theory is that glial cells are just "glue" in the brain, only play a certain "support" role.
the past few years, along with the widespread use of light genetic technology, this traditional view is gradually being subverted.
glial cells are gradually recognized for their important regulatory functions on neurons. however,
, the regulation and mechanism of the decision-making ability of astrocytes have been unclear.
the Chinese Academy of Sciences Center of Excellence in Brain Intelligence, Shenzhen Advanced Institute of Science, Wang Liping team and the Hong Kong City University Professor Li Ying team through the past few years of cooperation, using optical genetic technology, animal behavior combined with live electrophysiological technology and other methods, found that the chronic pain rat model of animal decision-making cognitive function significantly decreased, its internal neural loop mechanism lies in the outer amygdala (BLA)-front buckle back (ACC) nerve activity synchronization significantly reduced.
simultaneous photogenetic specificity stimulates astrocytes in acc brain regions, which can effectively improve the concentration of lactic acid (L-Lactate) in local microloops, thus enhancing the synchronization between the two brain regions, and effectively improving the effect of chronic pain on the cognitive ability of decision-making in rats.
this study proposes a new model for the brain cognitive neurofoundation of decision-making from the perspective of glial cell basic metabolism, and also provides a new way of thinking for clinical intervention in the treatment of cognitive impairment of chronic pain.
the work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Jieqing Project, the Key Project, the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences International Cooperation Program Cultivation Project, the Hong Kong Research And Grants Fund Fund, the Hong Kong Innovation Technology Project, the City University of Hong Kong Neuroscience Facility Project and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee.
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