Synchronized Astrocytic Ca²⁺ Responses in Neurovascular Coupling during Somatosensory Stimulation and for the Resting State

Using concomitant multimodality optical imaging of synchronized neuronal or astrocytic Ca²⁺ and hemodynamic changes, Gu et al. show hemodynamic responses to slow sensory stimuli without astrocytic Ca²⁺ changes. Astrocytic Ca²⁺ correlates with vasoconstriction after fast stimuli. Neuronal, not astrocytic, slow Ca²⁺ fluctuations correlate with hemodynamics at rest.