Brain astrocytes use a specific receptor protein, MEGF10, to selectively eliminate neural connections in the striatum as animals acquire new motor skills. Researchers found that removing this receptor from astrocytes disrupted both long-term potentiation and depression in medium spiny neurons, reducing the synaptic strengthening normally associated with motor learning. The process appears highly coordinated with dopamine signaling from the substantia nigra, with elevated dopamine levels specifically enhancing astrocyte-mediated synapse elimination. This discovery fundamentally reframes how we understand motor learning at the cellular level. Rather than viewing it purely as neurons strengthening connections, the brain actively prunes existing synapses through astrocyte activity to optimize neural circuits. The dopamine-MEGF10 pathway represents a previously unknown mechanism where chemical rewards directly instruct supportive brain cells to reshape neural architecture. For adults learning new skills or recovering from motor impairments, this suggests that supporting astrocyte function could be as important as targeting neurons directly. The research also implies that age-related declines in motor learning might partly reflect diminished astrocyte pruning capacity, opening potential therapeutic avenues for maintaining motor plasticity throughout life.