Investigating the effect of syngap1 heterozygous mutation on astrocytes

Abstract

Proper functioning of complex systems depends on the precise and apt coordination of its components at multiple levels. A failure in this can lead to aberrant systemic functioning. One such complex system which requires co-ordinated function in our body is the brain that is central to the nervous system. It consists of 86 billion and 85 billion non-neuronal cells (Herculano-Houzel and Lent 2005). Neurons are cells specialised in conducting electrical impulses. They are the fundamental computational units of the brain and are highly interconnected. Other than the soma or cell body, neurons have highly differentiated processes such as axons to transmit signals, and dendrites to receive signals from other neurons. This way, neurons form a highly complex and intricate network whose properties, functioning, and dynamics determine the behaviour of an organism (Kandel 2013). The behaviour of an organism enables it to sense, process or understand, and appropriately respond to environmental stimuli. Therefore, any abnormalities in processes regulating neuronal network properties can lead to brain and behavioural disorders. Resultantly, such an organism cannot sense or respond to its environment in a normal manner, which can be detrimental to its survival.