Astrocytes: orchestrating synaptic plasticity?

TL;DR

This paper reviews evidence suggesting that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, may play a key role in coordinating synaptic plasticity, which is essential for learning and memory.

Contribution

It highlights the potential non-neuronal role of astrocytes in orchestrating the complex mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.

Findings

Astrocytes influence synaptic strength and plasticity.

Evidence supports astrocytic regulation of neural activity.

Astrocytes may coordinate multiple plasticity mechanisms.

Abstract

Synaptic plasticity is the capacity of a preexisting connection between two neurons to change in strength as a function of neural activity. Because synaptic plasticity is the major candidate mechanism for learning and memory, the elucidation of its constituting mechanisms is of crucial importance in many aspects of normal and pathological brain function. In particular, a prominent aspect that remains debated is how the plasticity mechanisms, that encompass a broad spectrum of temporal and spatial scales, come to play together in a concerted fashion. Here we review and discuss evidence that pinpoints to a possible non-neuronal, glial candidate for such orchestration: the regulation of synaptic plasticity by astrocytes.