Astrocytes, dynamic cells that play a crucial role in brain function, have traditionally been overshadowed by the emphasis on neuronal activity in regulating behavior. This is in part due to the lack of tools to experimentally map and manipulate specific subsets of astrocytes based on their functional activity, which hampers our understanding of how astrocyte networks contribute to the organization of behavior. Here, using a tool that can translate astrocytic activity-mediated calcium signals into gene expression in a light-dependent manner, we have identified an active astrocytic ensemble associated with cue-motivated behavior in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), a central hub in the reward system. We mapped behavior-related astrocytic ensemble activity to the ventral-posterior region of the NAc. Furthermore, we demonstrate that manipulation of this functionally specified astrocytic ensemble is essential to recall the direction of reward behavior. Overall, these findings uncover the fine-tuning role of astrocytic ensembles in shaping salient behavior.

Peer reviewed