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IMBB Seminar

Description: Dr. Maurizio De Pittà
EPI BEAGLE, INRIA Rhône-Alpes, Université de Lyon LIRIS, 69006
Villeurbane, France

Title: Do Astrocytes Compute? Making the Point on Neuron-Glia Interactions.

Thursday, May 8th 2014
Seminar Room 1, FORTH first floor
Time: 12.00 noon

Abstract:
In recent years, the simultaneous recognition that astrocytes sense neighboring neuronal activity and release neuroactive agents (or “gliotransmitters”) has been instrumental in the uncovering of the many possible roles played by these cells in the regulation of synaptic transmission and neuronal activity. These findings suggested that information travels and is processed not just in the neuronal circuitry but in an expanded neuron-glia network. However much remains elusive about the role of astrocyte signaling in brain computation. Inspired by recent experiments on neuron-astrocyte interactions at cortical synapses, I will present theoretical arguments that suggest novel possible
mechanisms whereby astrocytes could take part in the processing and storage of information by the
brain. From subcellular to network levels, the analysis of the signaling pathways underlying these mechanisms refines our notion of neural communication and has profound implications on our
understanding of brain function.

Host: Yiota Poirazi
Status: Waiting for approval
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2014
Time: 12:00 EEST
Priority: 5-Medium
Access: Public
Created by: Lila Kalogeraki
Updated: Monday, May 5, 2014 12:14 GMT