Astrocyte as a Detector of Synchronous Events of a Neural Network

Abstract

The principles and mechanisms of information processing in the brain are among key fundamental problems of modern science. Neurons being the main signal cells of the brain provide the transmission and transformation of sequences of electrical pulses in a neural network. Signal networks include not only neurons but also glial cells called astrocytes executing regulatory functions, as is accepted in neurobiology. In this work, a morphofunctional (compartment) model of an astrocyte has been proposed. It has been shown that the astrocyte can serve as a detector of synchronous events of different points of the neural network, generating a calcium response signal. In turn, this signal induces the synchronous ejection of neuroactive substances to the corresponding points of the network, which can enhance the spatial synchronization of neurons or the synchronous modulation of different neural paths.