Astrocytes found to bridge gap between global brain activity and localized circuits
Global network activity in the brain modulates local neural circuitry via calcium signaling in non-neuronal cells called astrocytes according to research led by Hajime Hirase of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. Using electrodes and and two-photon microscopy imaging, the authors show that signaling transforms cholinergic modulation to cortical plasticity in vivo. The finding clarifies the link between two important processes in the brain.