Overview
A fundamental question in neuroscience is how different mechanisms of glial cell function, particularly the astrocytes, are linked with cognitive functions and behavior in mammals, as well as in mechanisms of brain disease. Various evidence has accumulated on the roles of astrocytes in neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, plasticity, and in higher cognitive functions. It is a disturbing reality that most of computational cellular neuroscience concentrates on modeling of the neuronal functions only, largely ignoring other brain cells in the models of neural circuits. Their roles in electrical, neuromodulatory and metabolic signaling is being elucidated daily, and their quantitative properties slowly emerge. The goal of the workshop is to present the state-of-the-art in quantitative aspects of astrocytic function and computational modeling of astrocytes in order to facilitate better understanding of the functions and dynamics of brain circuits. We concentrate on single astrocyte and small astrocyte networks, with an emphasis on methodological issues and principal difficulties for bridging the gap between the models and experimental studies.
Organizers:
Marja-Leena Linne, Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Finland, marja-leena.linne@tuni.fi
Predrag Janjic, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU), Skopje, North Macedonia, predrag.a.janjic@gmail.com