Both cortical spreading depression and spreading depolarizations correspond to slowly propagating waves of rapid, near-complete depolarization of brain cells. Cortical spreading depression typically arises in normal tissue, as in migraine, whereas spreading depolarizations typically arise in metabolically compromised tissue, as in ischemia. In this talk, I will discuss a detailed biophysical model for a neuron/astrocyte network that has been developed to explore mechanisms responsible for the initiation and propagation of cortical spreading depolarizations. In particular, we consider the role of astrocytes in maintaining ion homeostasis, thereby preventing these pathological waves. Analysis of the model is used to better understand the role of astrocytes in maintaining neuronal firing patterns.

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