Grant: Operating Grant

Communication and learning in the nervous system is executed by a group of structures called synapses. Although it was thought for a long time that only neuronal cells contributed to the communication process, recent work has shown that the other major cells in the nervous system, that is, the glial cells, are very active and are key elements in this fundamental process. We will explore the role of glial cells during the dynamic establishment of synapses during postnatal development and following nerve injury. In particular, we will test whether glial cells control and modulate the efficacy of synapses to communicate during these events to favour the establishment and consolidation of new synapses.