Tittle: Oligodendrocytes and Myelination: Pioneering New Frontiers in Cognitive Neuroscience

Ning Zhang¹Rulan Yi¹Fuwang Zhong¹Yali Lu¹Wenjia Chen¹Zhidan Ke¹Yi Zhang^2*Wei Li^3*Liang Zhou^1*

• ¹Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Organ Protection (Zunyi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, China
• ²Department of Anesthesiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, China
• ³State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Department of Wound Infection and Drug, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing400042, China., Daping Hospital, Chongqing, China

There has been a growing interest in the role of oligodendrocytes (OLs) and the myelin sheaths they form around axons in cognitive function. Historically, OLs were primarily considered to be involved in axonal insulation and signal transmission within the central nervous system. However, an increasing body of research indicates that OLs and myelination are integral to neural circuit formation, the regulation of plasticity, and higher-order cognitive functions. Developmental and functional abnormalities in oligodendrocytes, as well as deficits in myelination, are pathologically associated with diseases characterized by clinical cognitive dysfunction. These abnormalities have significant implications for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders and for the advancement and innovation of treatment methodologies. Investigations into the impact of oligodendrocytes and myelination on cognitive function offer a novel perspective for understanding the development, plasticity, and pathophysiological mechanisms of the nervous system. Future research endeavors are anticipated to elucidate the complexities of oligodendrocytes (OLs) and myelination, thereby offering renewed prospects for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. This review provides a systematic examination of contemporary research concerning oligodendrocytes and myelination, covering fundamental mechanisms, their roles in cognitive function, recent clinical advancements, emerging therapeutic strategies, ongoing scientific debates, key challenges, and future directions.By incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives, this synthesis seeks to establish a comprehensive framework that will guide subsequent investigations in this domain.The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of complex neural networks, within which glial cell populations function as essential supportive components. These populations are primarily comprised of three distinct cell types: microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes (OLs) [1] . Remarkably, glial cells are numerically predominant in the CNS, constituting up to 90% of the total cellular population in neural tissue [2] . While traditional neuroscience research has predominantly concentrated on neurons and their synaptic plasticity mechanisms, recent evidence indicates that glial cell populations