Astroglial gap junctions strengthen hippocampal network activity by sustaining afterhyperpolarization via KCNQ channels
Dossi et al. investigate the mechanisms underlying neuronal network activity modulation by gap-junction-mediated astroglial networks. Combining modeling and experimental approaches, they show that astroglial networks strengthen hippocampal bursting patterns by sustaining neuronal afterhyperpolarization via extracellular potassium modulation of KCNQ potassium channels. This pathway controls in vivo physiological oscillatory activity.