Mathematical Biology Seminar Alla Borisyuk, UU Mathematics Wednesday, September 20, 2023 1:45pm in LCB 323 Astrocytes in the Brain: a range of spatial and temporal scales Abstract: Astrocytes are glial cells making up 50% of brain volume, and playing multiple important roles. We are developing tools to include ?effective? astrocytes in neuronal network models in an easy-to-implement, and relatively computationally-efficient way. I will show results from modeling different aspects of astrocytes at several vastly different spatial and temporal scales. We will discuss the effects of desensitization of astrocyte G-protein-coupled receptors, neurotransmitter diffusion with recharging traps (DiRT), and modulation of neuronal excitability due to changes in extracellular ion concentrations. From these detailed models we extract the essential ways in which astrocytes influence nearby neurons, and include these effects in developing an updated understanding of neural network dynamics and synchronization.