What is a thought? You have them everyday (hopefully) and you’ve probably heard that the brain is what thinks. But really, how does the brain do that? How does it decide what to eat for breakfast, and how does it hold every memory you can remember? For years scientists have focused on a brain cell called a neuron that can exchange information in the brain, but the brain is full of many other types of cells that are important.
I focus on a brain cell called astrocytes, which get their name from their star-like shape! These cells used to be considered to exist only to help neurons and support the brain; however, they are also important for information transfer! As a neuroscientist, a person who studies the brain, I get to study these cells and understand the wide range of things they do and how they interact with the cells around them.
Even though I have always been curious about the world around me, I definitely would have never predicted I’d become a neuroscientist. Through most of high school, I knew with 100% certainty that I would become an archaeologist because I was obsessed human evolution and ancient history. It wasn’t until the end of year 12 that I became interested in reading about the brain and decided to rethink what job I wanted as an adult. It sounds cheesy, but if you’re a curious person, keep an open mind about what you’ll end up doing in life. You never know what career path could become your passion!
