Amongst the brain’s complicated network of neurons are their support structures, called glial cells, derived from the Latin word for “glue.” However, scientists like Maurizio De Pittà, a PhD student at Tel Aviv University’s Schools of Physics and Astronomy and Electrical Engineering, hypothesize that structural support is not the cells’ only role. Noticing the strong role of glial cells in learning and memory, De Pittà and his supervisor, Profesor Eshel Ben-Jacob, have created a model of how glial cells might aid in cognitive functioning. In it, glial cells act as a sort of relay station, dictating which, when, and how often signals go through to the next neuron. This activity would allow for smooth operation of neural signals, preventing patterns such as overexcitability. Previously, in 1998, Bordey and Sontheimer documented that dysfunctional glial cells are heavily involved in the pathophysiology of seizures.
