Taking a closer look at astrocytes and autism
The Transmitter
Astrocytes are the most abundant non-neuronal cell in the brain and a fresh focus in autism research. As with other glial cells, they were long considered “support cells” for neurons—but recent research makes it clear they play critical roles as neuromodulators. Studies are showing their role in guiding neural pathway development and regulating social behaviors, oxytocin and anxiety in ways that may help to explain certain autism traits. In addition, far from being silent cells, as was...