Abstract
Astrocyte Ca2+ signalling has been proposed to link neuronal information in different spatial–temporal dimensions to achieve a higher level of brain integration. However, some discrepancies in the results of recent studies challenge this view and highlight key insufficiencies in our current understanding. In parallel, new experimental approaches that enable the study of astrocyte physiology at higher spatial–temporal resolution in intact brain preparations are beginning to reveal an unexpected level of compartmentalization and sophistication in astrocytic Ca2+ dynamics. This newly revealed complexity needs to be attentively considered in order to understand how astrocytes may contribute to brain information processing.
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Acknowledgements
Research in the Volterra laboratory is supported by the ERC Advanced grant 340368 “Astromnesis” and by Swiss National Science Foundation grants 31003A 140999, NCCR “Synapsy” and NCCR “Transcure”.
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Volterra, A., Liaudet, N. & Savtchouk, I. Astrocyte Ca2+ signalling: an unexpected complexity. Nat Rev Neurosci 15, 327–335 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3725
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3725
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