Grant: Project Grant

The brain is composed of electrical cells, called neurons. Neurons are supported in several ways by other cells, known as astrocytes. This includes crosstalk between neurons and astrocytes. However, we do not fully understand how communication between astrocytes and neurons occurs. Our work suggests that astrocytes can sense (or "hear") nearby neurons. Then they release molecules ("talk back") that regulate neuronal activity needed for the sense of touch. The goal of this proposal is to determine how this communication between astrocytes and neurons occurs. This will be the first evidence that astrocytes can change brain circuits responsible for in the sense of touch. This is important because astrocyte-neuron communication changes in disease. Problems with astrocytes and their communication with neurons could be the missing link in these disorders.