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Abstract
The term 'tripartite synapse' refers to a concept in synaptic physiology based on
the demonstration of the existence of bidirectional communication between astrocytes
and neurons. Consistent with this concept, in addition to the classic 'bipartite'
information flow between the pre- and postsynaptic neurons, astrocytes exchange information
with the synaptic neuronal elements, responding to synaptic activity and, in turn,
regulating synaptic transmission. Because recent evidence has demonstrated that astrocytes
integrate and process synaptic information and control synaptic transmission and plasticity,
astrocytes, being active partners in synaptic function, are cellular elements involved
in the processing, transfer and storage of information by the nervous system. Consequently,
in contrast to the classically accepted paradigm that brain function results exclusively
from neuronal activity, there is an emerging view, which we review herein, in which
brain function actually arises from the coordinated activity of a network comprising
both neurons and glia.