(A) Representative cortical sections showing mCherry expressing cells (red), GFAP staining (green), and cell nuclei (DAPI, blue). Scale bar is 100 μm. AAV-hSyn-DIO-hM3D(Gq)-mCherry in Aldh1L1-cre mice, where DREADDs are expressed in astrocytes. Data in B-D are from mice injected with AAV-hSyn-DIO-hM3D(Gi)-mCherry in Aldh1L1-cre mice, where DREADDs are expressed in astrocytes. (B) LFP power spectra during stationary periods (basal) and locomotion after CNO injection, normalized to vehicle injection in the same mouse. The fluorescent reporter virus does not significantly change neural activity in the gamma band (basal −20 ± 32.4%, p<0.53; locomotion, −5.2 ± 16.0%, p<0.3, n = 3). (C) Plot of basal arteriole diameter after vehicle injection (x-axis) versus CNO injection (y-axis). There were no significant changes in basal diameter (+4.3 ± 13.2%, LME p<0.64, n = 5 mice, 24 vessels). (D) Locomotion-triggered averages after vehicle (black, 17.0 ± 3.7%) and CNO (red, 21.4 ± 6.4%) injections (LME p<1, n = 5 mice, 19 arterioles in FL/HL representation) for arterioles ≤ 25 µm in basal diameter. Data in E-G are from mice injected with AAV-hSyn-DIO-hM3D(Gq)-mCherry in Aldh1L1-cre mice, where DREADDs expressed in astrocytes. (E) LFP power spectra during stationary periods (basal) and locomotion after CNO injection, normalized to vehicle injection in the same mouse. The CNO injection did not significantly change neural activity in the gamma band (basal −7.6 ± 3.6%, p<0.09; locomotion, +4.2 ± 4.2%, p<0.56, n = 4). (F) Plot of basal arteriole diameter after vehicle injection (x-axis) versus CNO injection (y-axis). There were no significant changes in basal diameter (+9.7 ± 28.9%, LME p<0.44 n = 7 mice, 31 vessels). (G) Locomotion-triggered averages after vehicle (black, 23.7 ± 2.8%) and CNO (red, 27.1 ± 5.6%) injections (LME p<1, n = 7 mice, 20 arterioles in FL/HL representation) for arterioles ≤ 25 µm in basal diameter.