Calcium dynamics in habenular astrocytes regulate active coping within behavioral transitions.

Behavioral challenges prompt alternating vigorous and reduced mobility - active, passive coping - that optimize energy investment. Here, we show that disrupting astrocytes calcium signaling in the mouse lateral habenula (LHb) prolongs active coping. This state manifests through calcium elevations in both mouse and zebrafish habenular astrocytes. Presynaptic tracing approaches integrate LHb astrocytes within aversion-related neuronal circuits. Thus, astrocytes regulate state transitions highlighting their computational contribution to behaviors across species.