Nat Neurosci: Astrocytes may improve the body's decision-making

December 14, 2020 // -- In a recent study published in the international journal Nature Neuroscience, scientists from the Spanish National Research Council and other institutions found that astrology glial cells may improve the body's decision-making process.
Decision-making in goal-oriented behavior is a coordinated process involving different brain regions that consider the pros and cons of each option, and these cognitive operations in human and animal bodies are supported by the brain's forehead cortical layer, where the functions of two types of nerve cells have been extensively studied by scientists, i.e. excitability. Conical cells (excitatory pyramidal cells) and inhibitory intermediate neuronal cells (inhibitory interneurons), which have long been hypothetical about brain computation, each brain region has several types of glial cells, including a large number of astrological glial cells.
picture source: Nathan S. Ivey at TNPRC. In the Via Wikipedia study, researchers said that in addition to the role of star glial cells in maintaining synactal transmission, these cells can also perceive and react to GABA, a heterogeneic neurotransmitter released by synapses.
However, it is still unclear to researchers whether astrological glial cell-neurons communicate in the brain circuit and their behavioral consequences, so the researchers conducted the study to investigate whether astrological glial cells are actively involved in the processing of information that guides the body's behavioral activities, while the researchers also focused on the functional consequences of GABA-star glial cell signaling.
researchers found that astrological glial cells in the inner pre-cortical cortical (mPFC) of the brain regulate the balance between inhibitory/excitability in the neural networks that control decision-making.
By investigating the activity and local field potential of multiple single neurons in the inner pre-frontal corticals of mice, the researchers found that the genetic rejection of GABABRs subtypes in astrological glial cells or the specific oscillation γ activity and discharge properties of cortical neurons were altered.
γ Oscillation/Rhythm is a form of synchronous activity in large groups of neurons that is primarily involved in body perception, working memory, and other cognitive functions, and as previously found by researchers, γ oscillations are involved in the dynamic participation of neuroprocessing processes in the critical behavior of adaptability.
Using photogenetics, a light-induced cell activation technique, to activate astrological glial cells in the pre-frontal leaves can induce increased cortical inhibitory synaptic transmission, local neuron activation, γ oscillations, and improve the body's cognitive performance;
'In this study, we identified astrogenic glial cells that may act as a central role in controlling the suppression of the cerebral cortical circuit, while also providing a special and independent path for the medium-range time-scale regulation of cortical information processing and consistent target-oriented behavior,' the researchers said.
() Originals: Mederos, S., Sánchez-Puelles, C., Esparza, J. et al. GABAergic signaling to astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex sustains goal-directed behaviors. Nat Neurosci (2020). doi:10.1038/s41593-020-00752-x。