# A Functional Taxonomy of Cortical Astrocytes

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2022 · $483,453

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Recent work has solidified the concept that astrocytes are critical circuit components that regulate
neuronal activity, particularly synchronous types of activity. However, it remains unclear how astrocytes
encode and integrate neuronal circuit signals to mediate this neuronal synchronization. Moreover, the extent to
which single astrocytes function as individual computational units or operate as a syncytial network is not well
understood. In the proposed research, we aim to address these gaps in knowledge by uncovering both the
mechanisms by which neuronal signals are differentially transmitted to astrocytic networks, and those by which
astrocytes feedback to neuronal networks. We will focus on the two major neurotransmitters in the cerebral
cortex (glutamate and GABA) and one essential neuromodulator, norepinephrine (NE), since astrocytes
express abundant cell-surface, G-protein coupled receptors that are activated by all three of these neuron-
derived signals. We will use both ex vivo cortical slices and in vivo mouse models, and apply optical,
electrophysiological, chemogenetic, and genetic techniques to test astrocytic integration into these signaling
systems. Our goals are three-fold: We will determine 1) the mechanisms by which single astrocytes respond to
subcellular activation of glutamate, GABA, and NE, and how those dynamics shape an astrocytic output, 2) the
spatiotemporal effects on local neuronal and astrocytic networks of these three
neurotransmitters/neuromodulators, and 3) the mechanisms by which astrocytes transmit cortex-wide signals
to neurons. Thus, in each of the three aims, we will probe similar mechanistic questions at progressively wider
neurobiological scales.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10364262
- **Project number:** 2R01NS099254-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Evan Harriman Feinberg
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $483,453
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-12-01 → 2026-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10364262

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10364262, A Functional Taxonomy of Cortical Astrocytes (2R01NS099254-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10364262. Licensed CC0.

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