opto- and chemogenetic actuators

Astrocytes are tightly associated with neurons and play pivotal roles in neural circuit development, operation, and adaptation in health and disease.

Astrocyte heterogeneity, metabolism, and inter-glial communication complicate interpretation of astrocytes' role in neural circuit regulation and animal behavior.

It remains unclear how astrocytes integrate diverse neuronal signals, modulate neural circuit structure and function across temporal and spatial scales, and influence animal behavior or disease through aberrant excitation and molecular output.

Fluorescence indicators, opto- and chemogenetic actuators, genetic targeting tools, quantitative behavioral assays, and computational methods may help resolve longstanding questions about astrocyte regulation of neural circuits and behavior.