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A digital illustration of an astrocyte shows a bright orange and pink cell on a dark blue background, with lots of thin blue tendrils spanning outward.

Astrocytes, with their long-ranging tendrils that cover lots of territory across the brain, can influence neurons profoundly, a trio of studies suggests.

JUAN GAERTNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

By Laura Sanders

Brain cells named for stars are finally getting their time to shine. Three distinct studies, published May 15 in Science, show that astrocytes, once thought of as support cells, powerfully shape how brains work.