Cell biology

Neuroscience

Biology

Calcium

Interpretation (philosophy)

Astrocyte

Signal transduction

Computer science

Acoustics

Signalling pathways

Sense (electronics)

Physical chemistry

Intracellular

Signalling

Physics

Organic chemistry

Psychology

Calcium imaging

Central nervous system

Repertoire

Internal medicine

Medicine

Chemistry

Programming language

Calcium signaling

Nature reviews. Neuroscience

Astrocytes functionally interact with neurons and with other brain cells. Although not electrically excitable, astrocytes display a complex repertoire of intracellular Ca2+ signalling that evolves in space and time within single astrocytes and across astrocytic networks. Decoding the physiological meaning of these dynamic changes in astrocytic Ca2+ activity has remained a major challenge. This Review describes experimental preparations and methods for recording and studying Ca2+ activity in astrocytes, focusing on the analysis of Ca2+ signalling events in single astrocytes and in astrocytic networks. The limitations of existing experimental approaches and ongoing technical and conceptual challenges in the interpretation of astrocytic Ca2+ events and&nbsp;their spatio-temporal patterns are also discussed. Although not electrically excitable, astrocytes display a complex repertoire of intracellular Ca2+ signalling. Semyanov, Henneberger and Agarwal describe experimental preparations and methods for studying Ca2+ activity in astrocytes, their limitations and the ongoing technical and conceptual challenges in the interpretation of astrocytic Ca2+ events and their spatio-temporal patterns.

Making sense of astrocytic calcium signals — from acquisition to interpretation