Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a series of experiments on mice, showed that
Neuroscientists have used precise molecularinterventions to disrupt two specific functions of astrocytes in the motor cortex. In some mice, they disrupted the ability of astrocytes to take up the neurotransmitter glutamate. This is a chemical that excites nerve activity when it enters the synapses. In other mice, they hyperactivated the calcium signals of astrocytes, which affected their functioning.
In both cases, the interventions disrupted the normal process of neuroplasticity by which neurons formor change their relationships with each other in the process of learning.To test how these changes affected the mice, the researchers gave the animals a simple motor task that they had to master.At the signal, the mice had to reach the lever and press it for five seconds.
Under normal conditions, rodents learned to complete the task in a couple of weeks.At the same time, in the process of training, the accuracy of movements increased, reaction was accelerated, the trajectory of pushing became smoother and more uniform.Each intervention affected the performance of the mice.
In the first case, when scientists turned offability of astrocytes to absorb glutamate, mice still pressed the lever at the same speed. But in this case, the smoothness of movement was significantly reduced. They became unstable and shaky, the animals could not improve their technique. In the second case (during the impact on calcium channels), the rodents stopped understanding when to press the lever, and the speed of movements dropped significantly.
Movement coordination plays an important role ineveryday life of people. The results of the study show that for a deeper understanding of learning processes and associated impairments, it is necessary to analyze not only the neurons of the motor cortex, but also the “support group” that maintains the optimal molecular balance for learning.
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On the cover: human brain astrocytes. Image: Bruno Pascal, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons