Fig. 1: mPFC astrocyte Ca²⁺ signaling is associated with anxiety-like behavior in vivo.

a Schematic of experimental design. b Immunohistochemistry (IHC) images and quantification showing the optic fiber implantation site in the mPFC and specific GCaMP6f expression in astrocytes. c Movement trajectory of a mouse during the EPM test. d Representative astrocyte Ca²⁺ traces with behavioral episodes. e Kymographs of astrocyte Ca²⁺ signals aligned with open and closed arm entries. f Left, average Ca²⁺ signal changes during the EPM test. Right, quantitative analysis of the area under the curve (AUC) showing a significant increase to open arm exploration. Two-sided two sample t-test, P < 0.0001. g Illustration of the EZM test. h Kymographs of astrocyte Ca²⁺ signals aligned with open and closed area entries. i Average Ca²⁺ signals and integrated responses showing Ca²⁺ elevation upon open area entries. Two-sided two sample t-test, P = 0.0056 (Closed → Open) and P = 0.036 (Open → Closed). j Illustration of T-maze spontaneous alternation test. k Kymographs of astrocyte Ca²⁺ signals aligned with goal arm entries. l Average Ca²⁺ signals and integrated responses showing similar changes between correct and error alternation. Two-sided Mann–Whitney test, P = 0.33. ****P < 0.0001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05, n.s. not significant, mean ± SEM. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.