Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory01:23

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory

2.9K
Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
 Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
2.9K
Storage01:23

Storage

487
A schema is a mental framework that helps individuals organize and interpret information. Schemata, formed from previous experiences, influence how we process new information: how we encode it, the inferences we make, and how we retrieve it. For instance, a schema for what a typical classroom looks like might include desks, a teacher's desk, a whiteboard, and students in such an environment. This expectation helps us quickly understand and navigate new classrooms without needing to analyze...
487
Neuron Structure01:30

Neuron Structure

21.3K
Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
Structure and Function of Neurons
The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to...
21.3K
Role of Hippocampus in Memory01:19

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

2.0K
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
2.0K
Traumatic Memory01:20

Traumatic Memory

698
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
698
Role of Amygdala in Memory01:16

Role of Amygdala in Memory

1.6K
The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
1.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Editorial: Immune functions of neuroglia.

Frontiers in immunology·2026
Same author

Aberrant Potassium Handling by Astrocytes and Epileptic Seizures: A Synthetic Update.

Acta physiologica (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

Mitochondria transfer in neurological disorders: the key role of neuroglia.

Molecular neurodegeneration·2026
Same author

Astrocytes as Histaminergic Gatekeepers of Anxiety: A New Pathway for Emotional Control.

Journal of neurochemistry·2026
Same author

Congratulations, JNC Turns 70!

Journal of neurochemistry·2026
Same author

Author Correction: Curing the brain: in search for new astrocyte-specific therapies.

Experimental & molecular medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Investigation of Spatial Interaction Between Astrocytes and Neurons in Cleared Brains
05:17

Investigation of Spatial Interaction Between Astrocytes and Neurons in Cleared Brains

Published on: March 31, 2022

3.0K

Memory Formation Shaped by Astroglia.

Robert Zorec1, Anemari Horvat2, Nina Vardjan1

  • 1Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana Ljubljana, Slovenia ; Celica Biomedical Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
|December 5, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Astrocytes, crucial glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), actively contribute to memory formation by remodeling synapses and communicating with neurons. Their unique signaling mechanisms integrate information over time, supporting long-term memory consolidation.

Keywords:
astrogliamemorymetabolismshapesignaling

More Related Videos

Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration
08:52

Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration

Published on: January 10, 2018

15.1K
Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
11:25

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Published on: January 19, 2013

95.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Investigation of Spatial Interaction Between Astrocytes and Neurons in Cleared Brains
05:17

Investigation of Spatial Interaction Between Astrocytes and Neurons in Cleared Brains

Published on: March 31, 2022

3.0K
Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration
08:52

Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration

Published on: January 10, 2018

15.1K
Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
11:25

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Published on: January 19, 2013

95.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Glial Cell Biology

Background:

  • Astrocytes are the most diverse glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
  • Traditionally, neurons were considered the sole cellular components involved in memory formation.
  • Emerging evidence highlights the essential role of astrocytes in memory processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the contribution of astrocytes to memory formation.
  • To investigate the mechanisms underlying astroglial involvement in synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation.
  • To understand the temporal dynamics of astroglial signaling in relation to neuronal activity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on astrocyte function and memory.
  • Analysis of astrocyte's role in synaptic plasticity and morphological remodeling.
  • Examination of astroglial-neuronal communication pathways, including gliosignaling molecules and second messengers (Ca2+, cAMP).

Main Results:

  • Astrocytes are critical for memory consolidation, a process requiring hours for long-term memory formation.
  • They facilitate synaptic plasticity through glycogen mobilization and morphological remodeling.
  • Astroglial signaling, involving Ca2+ and cAMP, exhibits unique temporal delays, positioning them as integrators for time-dependent memory.

Conclusions:

  • Astrocytes are not merely supportive cells but active participants in memory formation.
  • Their unique signaling properties, including delayed gliosignaling, are crucial for integrating information over extended periods.
  • Astrocytes are ideally suited to support the time-dependent nature of memory consolidation.