Astrocytes are superstars in the game of long-term memory
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 15-Nov-2025 22:11 ET (16-Nov-2025 03:11 GMT/UTC)
Why are we able to recall only some of our past experiences? A new study at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan has an answer. Spoiler Alert! The brain cells responsible for stabilizing memories aren’t neurons. Rather, they are astrocytes, a type of glial cell that is usually thought of as a role player in the game of learning and memory. Published in Nature, the study shows how emotionally intense experiences like fear biologically tag small groups of astrocytes for several days so that they can re-engage when a mouse recalls the experience. It is this repeated astrocytic engagement that stabilizes memories.
A groundbreaking project spearheaded by Binghamton University, State University of New York's Human Sexualities Research Lab did more than add to the history of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the world’s first major HIV/AIDS service organization. It also breached a generational divide and pioneered new ways to conduct oral history.
Facial self-touching — particularly around the nose, chin and cheeks — strongly correlates with elevated stress during cognitive tasks, new University of Houston research showed.
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published by Elsevier, found that discontinuing universal free school meal (UFSM) policies significantly increases school meal debt, student stigma, and declines in participation. The research, based on a survey of nearly 1,000 school food authorities (SFAs) across eight states, also found that states continuing UFSM through state-level policies reported more stable revenues and greater student access to nutritious meals.