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We propose to explore the long-neglected functional roles of the non-neuronal brain cells and engraft them into biologically plausible models of Neural-Astrocytic Networks (NAN). To achieve our goal, we have formed an interdisciplinary team of principal investigators at Rutgers, that balances pioneering and well-established experimental, computational and translational research. We will study how glial cells, astrocytes in particular, work independently and cooperatively with the neuronal brain. To do so, we will conduct experimental studies to explore the biological mechanisms that astrocytes exhibit in modulating neural synchronization and local plasticity, two fundamental components in brain network function and dysfunction. Our NAN models will, on the one hand, be informed by the experimental results and, on the other hand, expand the experimental evi-dence collected from cell recordings to the brain network level, where behavior, and its associated diseases, emerge. The anticipated new knowledge on astrocyte-neuron interaction will advance, if not transform, brain studies and related treatments. Overall, this and other efforts to harness and nurture the functional role of astrocytes into comprehensive computational models have the potential to shape a field that one may call “Computational Astrocyence.