Astrocytes influence memory retention and loss in new study

Researchers at Tohoku University have found that astrocytes, cells surrounding neurons, play a crucial role in determining which memories are retained or forgotten. By manipulating these cells in mice, they discovered that acidifying astrocytes leads to memory loss, while alkalinizing them helps preserve memories. This study challenges previous beliefs that memory formation occurs sequentially. Instead, it suggests that short- and long-term memories may develop simultaneously. The findings could have implications for understanding emotional memory and developing treatments for conditions like PTSD. The research involved optogenetics to control astrocyte activity in the amygdala, a brain region linked to emotion. Mice with acidified astrocytes forgot fear memories quickly, while those with alkalinized astrocytes retained them for weeks. The study was published in the journal GLIA on November 4, 2024.