Our group is interested in understanding the role of glial cells in the mammalian central nervous system and the mechanisms by which glial cells and neurons interact to support normal communication in the CNS. We try to understand the role of glial cells in the mammalian central (CNS) and peripheral nervous systems (PNS), and the mechanisms by which glial cells and neurons interact to support normal sensory processing and perception. We are developing and using a set of interdisciplinary and complementary tools (electrophysiology, chemogenetics, 2-photon Ca2+ imaging, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and behavior) and approaches to selectively manipulate and monitor glial cell signaling and investigate its effects in synaptic transmission, plasticity, and memory underlying sensory processing. From these studies, we hope to resolve some glial cell functions, and open up entirely new areas of investigation and potential treatments of diseases. Indeed, astrocytes play a major role in many neurological disorders, and it has become clear that sensory perception, notably visual perception, touch and proprioception, are impaired in some of them.