New roles for glia

Abstract

Recent findings suggest that glial cells, though lacking the excitability usually associated with most neurons, may be more actively involved in brain function than has been previously thought. Collectively, these findings indicate that glial cells can sense, and potentially respond to, a large array of neuronal signals. Because glial cells are intimately associated with most neurons, neurobiologists should reconsider the possible significance of active neuronal-glial signaling.