Mathematics Colloquia and Seminars

Return to Colloquia & Seminar listing

Astrocytes are glial cells playing multiple important roles in the brain, e.g. control of synaptic transmission. We are developing tools to include “effective” astrocytes in neuronal network models in an easy-to-implement computationally-efficient way. In our approach we first consider neuron-astrocyte interaction at fine spatial scale, and then extract essential ways in which the network is influenced by the presence of the astrocytes. For example, by using a DiRT (Diffusion with Recharging Traps) model we find that a synapse tightly ensheathed by an astrocyte makes neuronal connection faster, weaker, and less reliable, and subsequently astrocytes can push the network to synchrony and to exhibiting strong spatial patterns, possibly contributing to epileptic disorder. Further, the calcium signals in the astrocyte initiate a loop of calcium-sodium-potassium trans-membrane activity. This activity modulates the extracellular concentrations of these ions and, consequently, the excitability of the nearby postsynaptic cell, further modifying the neuronal network activity.  

Also available on Zoom: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/98969645841