Optogenetic Glia Manipulation: Possibilities and Future Prospects

Cells in the nervous system can be divided into two types: neurons and non-neuronal cells called neuroglia or glia that include astrocytes and microglia. For a century, neuroscientists considered glial cells as merely structural and supporting cells for neurons, and studies on the function of glial cells have been mainly focused on their roles in the context of neurological diseases. Thus, the belief that physiological brain functions are mediated solely by neuronal activity has been unchallenged for the past century. However, accumulating data from studies over the last two decades indisputably demonstrate that glial cells are also critically involved in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Based on these data, the classically accepted view of physiological brain function that exclusively revolves around neuronal activity has been updated to be regulated by the networks among neurons and glial cells.