The Neuro-Astrocyte Connection: Understanding Their Role in Sleep Regulation
Sleep is a dynamic state characterized by reduced behavioral activity, decreased responsiveness
to external stimuli, and active brain processes. It is a fundamental biological necessity for all
vertebrates and is thought to play crucial roles in memory consolidation, metabolite clearance,
anabolism, and neural plasticity. Notably, disturbances in sleep and disruptions in sleep–wake
regulation are increasingly recognized as early indicators of neurological and neuropsychiatric
disorders, yet the underlying mechanisms of sleep regulation remain largely unclear.
In this talk, I will present our work investigating how neuronal–glial interactions, particularly
astrocyte activity, contribute to the regulation and plasticity of sleep-wake dynamics. We address
key questions regarding the contribution of non-neuronal cells to sleep-regulating circuits and the
plasticity of neuronal–glial substrates supporting cognition in both healthy and pathological
conditions. Using in vivo calcium imaging of astrocytes and neurons, multi-site electrophysiology,
optogenetics, pharmacogenetics, and closed-loop acoustic stimulation in freely moving mice, we
aim to define sleep-related neural signatures across organizational levels—from single cells to
distributed networks. Understanding these mechanisms is essential, as sleep disturbances such
as insomnia are prevalent features of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Date: 25 March 2026, 15:00
Venue: Pharmacology, off Mansfield Road OX1 3QT
Speaker: Dr Carolina Gutierrez Herrera (Bern University Hospital)
Organising department: MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit
Host: Professor David Dupret (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford)
Part of: Brain Network Dynamics Seminar Series
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Nima Mirkhani