# Astrocyte Modulation of Neural Circuit Function and Behavior

> **NIH NIH U19** · SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES · 2023 · $2,231,208

## Abstract

Project Summary: Overall
“What is the function of glial cells in neural centers? The answer is still not known, and it may remain unsolved
for many years to come until scientists find direct methods to attack it.” (Ramon y Cajal, 1901). This prophecy
turned out to be accurate. Astrocytes, one of the most abundant cell types in the brain, have long been thought
of as primarily passive support cells. Over the past two decades, studies indicate that astrocytes play pivotal
roles in nervous system development, function, and diseases. However, a major unresolved issue in
neuroscience is how astrocytes integrate diverse neuronal signals under healthy conditions, modulate neural
circuit structure and function at multiple temporal and spatial scales, and how aberrant excitation and molecular
output influences sensorimotor behavior and contributes to disease. The overall goal of this U19 Team-Research
BRAIN Circuit Program proposal is to address this fundamental issue by developing a deeper mechanistic
understanding of astrocytes’ roles in neural circuit operation, complex behaviors, and brain computation
theories. Two overarching questions will be addressed: 1) How do astrocytes temporally and spatially integrate
molecular signals from the diverse types of local and projection neurons activated during sensorimotor behaviors.
2) How do astrocytes convert this information into functional outputs that modulate neural circuit structure and
function at different spatial and temporal scales. A multidisciplinary, comprehensive effort is proposed to address
these questions that can only be completed through close collaboration between researchers with unique and
complementary expertise. An innovative multi-scale approach integrating functional, anatomical, and genetic
analyses with theoretical modeling will be leveraged. This approach involves quantitative behavioral assays,
large-scale imaging of cellular and molecular dynamics, targeted cell-type-specific manipulations, high-
throughput omic techniques, genetic profiling, protein engineering, machine learning, and computational
modeling. By integrating experimental and theoretical approaches, molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms
will be determined through which astrocytes influence neural circuits and contribute to complex behaviors and
brain computation theories. The experimental and data analysis tools developed as part of this project will be
invaluable for the broader neuroscience community.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10693161
- **Project number:** 5U19NS123719-03
- **Recipient organization:** SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
- **Principal Investigator:** Cagla Eroglu
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $2,231,208
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10693161

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10693161, Astrocyte Modulation of Neural Circuit Function and Behavior (5U19NS123719-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10693161. Licensed CC0.

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