Glial cells, once thought to serve only supportive roles in the brain, are now recognized as active participants in neural processing. Comprising astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, glial cells influence synaptic transmission, modulate neural plasticity, regulate metabolic support, and maintain homeostasis. Emerging evidence shows that glia not only interact dynamically with neurons but also contribute to learning and memory. Despite this growing recognition, glial function is often underrepresented in computational models of brain activity, which have traditionally focused on neurons alone. Incorporating glial dynamics into models offers a more complete and accurate understanding of not only neural computation, but brain function. With advances in imaging, electrophysiology, and molecular biology revealing the complexity of glial cells, computational neuroscience is now poised to integrate their contributions. This evolving field opens new opportunities for understanding cognition and neurological disorders from a more holistic, network-based perspective.
Despite increasing evidence of their crucial roles, glial cells are still underrepresented in computational models of brain function. Traditionally focused on neurons, these models often overlook how astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes influence synaptic transmission, plasticity, and neural network dynamics. This limits our understanding of brain computation and its disruption in disease. Recent advances in imaging and single-cell analysis have revealed the active, dynamic roles glia play in regulating neural activity. These insights provide a strong basis for incorporating glial mechanisms into computational frameworks.
The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight models that explore glial contributions to neural computation. We welcome studies that integrate experimental data, propose new theoretical models, or simulate glial-neuronal interactions to better understand coding, network behavior, and cognition. Expanding models to include glia is essential for a more complete and accurate picture of brain function.
This Research Topic all papers that model the roles of glial cells in neural computation. We are particularly interested in studies that incorporate astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes into computational frameworks to explore their influence on synaptic transmission, plasticity, network dynamics, and information processing. Submissions may address astrocyte-neuron signalling, glial regulation of homeostasis, neuroinflammation, myelination and signal conduction, or the role of glia in learning, memory, and behavior. We also encourage work that examines how glial dysfunction contributes to neurological and psychiatric disorders. Contributions that integrate experimental data, propose new theoretical models, or apply interdisciplinary approaches - combining neuroscience, data science, physics, or systems biology - are especially welcome. The overarching goal is to advance our understanding of brain function by moving beyond neuron-centric models and highlighting the essential roles of glial cells.
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