Glia!

For the majority of neuroscience's history, glial cells have been thought to merely serve a structural role. Glial cells help regulate the extracellular concentration of specific neurotransmitters and ions. External concentrations of ions are key to the proper functioning of neurons. However, more recent research is suggesting that glial cells pay an extremely important role the overall functioning of the brain. The most recent Science magazine for November 5th focuses on the function and importance of glial cells. For example, glial cells form the association cortices between major systems of neurons. Our ability to associate different types of information (such as a smell with a memory) forms the basis of our cognition. Recent research cited in Science explores the structure and function of different types of glial cells--astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia.

Check out the online version of science!

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/current/