"It is known that astrocytes are a heterogeneous cell type in their molecular and gene expression signatures, morphology and origin," Marta Navarrete, senior author of the paper, told Medical Xpress. ...

Researchers have uncovered novel aspects of astrocyte function in olfactory, or smell, perception revealing changes in their gene expression patterns that turn these brain cells into a hub of ...

To enjoy the scent of morning coffee and freshly baked cookies or to perceive the warning smell of something burning, the brain needs two types of cells, neurons and astrocytes, to work closely with ...

And yet we know surprisingly little about them. While the cellular biology of this critical organ has been mapped out, ...

Astrocytes, one of the most prevalent cell types in the central nervous system (CNS), are critically involved in neural function. Genetically manipulating astrocytes is an essential tool in ...

Seminal positron emission tomography (PET) functional imaging studies in humans by Fox and Raichle revealed that, during sensory activation, glucose utilization and oxygen consumption are uncoupled, ...

A new type of brain cell, called a glutamatergic astrocyte, has been discovered. It could explain how a variety of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s, develop. Brain cells can largely ...

Why are we able to recall only some of our past experiences? A new study led by Jun Nagai at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan has an answer. Surprisingly, it turns out that the brain cells ...

Amyloid plaques are misfolded proteins aggregates between neurons, Alzheimer's disease illustration. [Artur Plawgo/Getty Images] Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis ...

A recent study published in the journal Nature reveals how a specific stress hormone helps the brain lock in its neural ...

Astrocytes are notoriously two-faced—calmly coddling neurons one minute, then ruthlessly consuming their synapses the next. Why these dramatic mood swings? Blame the EphA4 receptor, according to a ...