I will show calcium imaging data of rat cortical neurons and glial cells grown in microchannel devices, and discuss the ideas and challenges
involved in probing the interaction dynamics of these chemically coupled cell networks at both a chemical-cellular and a network scale. Glial cells comprise 90% of brain mass, yet until recently, glia were seen only as mechanical scaffolding and as providing nutrient/waste management for neurons. Within the past 15 years experiments have shown glial cells contribute to neuronal signaling through chemical interactions at synapses, yet the functional role glia play in the signaling mechanisms of the brain is largely not understood.
Audio (MP3 File, Podcast Ready)
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