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Do stars govern our actions? Astrocyte involvement in rodent behavior
João Filipe Oliveira1, Vanessa Morais Sardinha1, Sónia Guerra-Gomes1
1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
Trends in Neurosciences
|August 29, 2015
Summary
Astrocytes, crucial partners in brain function, directly influence behavior across cognitive, emotional, motor, and sensory domains. Further research with advanced tools will clarify their precise roles in neural networks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Biology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Astrocytes are increasingly recognized for their significant role alongside neurons in information processing.
- Recent decades have seen substantial advancements in understanding astrocyte contributions to neural network outputs and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing evidence for astrocyte involvement in diverse behavioral domains.
- To consolidate knowledge on the mechanisms underlying astrocyte participation in behavior.
Main Methods:
- Review of accumulated evidence from animal models.
- Analysis of astrocyte involvement across cognition, emotion, motor, and sensory processing.
Main Results:
- Strong evidence supports the direct involvement of astrocytes in various aspects of behavior.
- Data indicates astrocyte participation across four key behavioral domains.
Conclusions:
- Astrocytes play a direct and significant role in shaping behavior.
- Development of tools for precise control of astrocyte activity is essential for future mechanistic studies.
