Neurovascular Signaling at the Gliovascular Interface: From Flow Regulation to Cognitive Energy Coupling

Oprea, Stefan; Pantu, Cosmin; Costea, Daniel; Dumitru, Adrian Vasile; Tataru, Catalina-Ioana; Dobrin, Nicolaie; Radoi, Mugurel Petrinel; Munteanu, Octavian; Breazu, Alexandru

doi:10.3390/ijms27010069

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Neurovascular Signaling at the Gliovascular Interface: From Flow Regulation to Cognitive Energy Coupling

by

Stefan Oprea

^1,2,3,

Cosmin Pantu

^1,2,3,*

,

Daniel Costea

^3,4,*,

Adrian Vasile Dumitru

^1,3,5,

Catalina-Ioana Tataru

^1,3,6,7,

Nicolaie Dobrin

^3,8,

Mugurel Petrinel Radoi

^1,3,9,

Octavian Munteanu

^1,2,3 and

Alexandru Breazu

^1,2,3

¹

Faculty of General Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania

²

Department of Anatomy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania

³

Puls Med Association, 051885 Bucharest, Romania

⁴

Department of Neurosurgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania

⁵

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 030167 Bucharest, Romania

⁶

Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania

⁷

Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital for Ophthalmological Emergencies, 010464 Bucharest, Romania

⁸

“Nicolae Oblu” Clinical Hospital, 700309 Iasi, Romania

⁹

Department of Neurosurgery, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010069 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 20 November 2025 / Revised: 5 December 2025 / Accepted: 18 December 2025 / Published: 21 December 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Function of Glial Cells in the Nervous System: 2nd Edition)

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Abstract

Thought processes in the brain occur as it continually modifies its use of energy. This review integrates research findings from molecular neurology, vascular physiology and non-equilibrium thermodynamics to create a comprehensive perspective on thinking as a coordinated energy process. Data shows that there is a relationship between the processing of information and metabolism throughout all scales, from the mitochondria’s electron transport chain to the rhythmic changes in the microvasculature. Through the cellular level of organization, mitochondrial networks, calcium (Ca²⁺) signals from astrocytes and the adaptive control of capillaries work together to maintain a state of balance between order and dissipation that maintains function while also maintaining the ability to be flexible. The longer-term regulatory mechanisms including redox plasticity, epigenetic programs and organelle remodeling may convert short-lived states of metabolism into long-lasting physiological “memory”. As well, data indicates that the cortical networks of the brain appear to be operating close to their critical regimes, which will allow them to respond to stimuli but prevent the brain from reaching an unstable energetic state. It is suggested that cognition occurs as the result of the brain’s ability to coordinate energy supply with neural activity over both time and space. Providing a perspective of the functional aspects of neurons as a continuous thermodynamic process creates a framework for making predictive statements that will guide future studies to measure coherence as a key link between energy flow, perception, memory and cognition.

Keywords: adaptive coherence; brain energetics; gliovascular coupling; mitochondrial networks; thermodynamic criticality; redox plasticity; predictive coding; metabolic learning; entropy minimization; energy-information coupling

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MDPI and ACS Style

Oprea, S.; Pantu, C.; Costea, D.; Dumitru, A.V.; Tataru, C.-I.; Dobrin, N.; Radoi, M.P.; Munteanu, O.; Breazu, A. Neurovascular Signaling at the Gliovascular Interface: From Flow Regulation to Cognitive Energy Coupling. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010069

AMA Style

Oprea S, Pantu C, Costea D, Dumitru AV, Tataru C-I, Dobrin N, Radoi MP, Munteanu O, Breazu A. Neurovascular Signaling at the Gliovascular Interface: From Flow Regulation to Cognitive Energy Coupling. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(1):69. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010069

Chicago/Turabian Style

Oprea, Stefan, Cosmin Pantu, Daniel Costea, Adrian Vasile Dumitru, Catalina-Ioana Tataru, Nicolaie Dobrin, Mugurel Petrinel Radoi, Octavian Munteanu, and Alexandru Breazu. 2026. "Neurovascular Signaling at the Gliovascular Interface: From Flow Regulation to Cognitive Energy Coupling" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 1: 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010069

APA Style

Oprea, S., Pantu, C., Costea, D., Dumitru, A. V., Tataru, C.-I., Dobrin, N., Radoi, M. P., Munteanu, O., & Breazu, A. (2026). Neurovascular Signaling at the Gliovascular Interface: From Flow Regulation to Cognitive Energy Coupling. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010069

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