Summary: New research reveals that brain cells use a muscle-like signaling mechanism to relay information over long distances. Scientists discovered that dendrites, the branch-like extensions of neurons, contain a structured network of contact sites that amplify calcium signals—similar to how muscles contract. These contact sites regulate calcium release, activating key proteins involved in learning and memory.

This mechanism explains how neurons process information received at specific points and relay it to the cell body. Understanding this process sheds light on synaptic plasticity, which underlies learning and memory formation. The findings could provide new insights into neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.