Astrocytes help sustain brain activity and blood flow during prolonged sensory stimulation

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Health & Medicine United Kingdom

What happens in the brain when sensory stimulation continues over time—for example, while jogging, reading or listening to music? Sensory input activates specific groups of neurons, increasing their demand for oxygen and nutrients. In response, nearby blood vessels dilate and increase blood flow, a process known as neurovascular coupling. Although astrocytes—star-shaped non-neuronal cells in the…

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