Role of Glia cells in the formation of memory in the brain

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel model where glia cells directly form temporary links based on neural activity, which then facilitate the development of long-term neural structures, offering insights into memory formation.

Contribution

It introduces three postulates on how glia cells contribute to short-term and long-term memory formation through speculative link formation and neural growth stimulation.

Findings

Glia cells form temporary links during neural activity.

Temporary glia bridges stimulate neural growth for long-term memory.

The proposed algorithm explains problem solving and idea creation.

Abstract

We build on progress in understanding the role of glia cells in building the initial networks in the foetal brain. This has led us to make three significant postulates. Short term memory results from glia cells forming speculative links directly and solely as a result of neural activity generated by life experiences. These temporary 'glia bridges' create long term memory by stimulating the growth of axons, dendrites and synapses and providing the pathways enabling permanent neural structures to be created. Problem solving, idea creation and memory maintenance results from this fundamental algorithm for how the brain generates new links.