Modeling the effect of cerebral capillary blood flow on neuronal firing

•A mathematical model is used to study the effect of capillary blood flow on neuronal firing.•The model provides insights of the role of astrocytes in maintaining neuronal responses.•Results are presented for both the cases of homogeneous and heterogeneous capillary networks.•Heterogeneous blood flow results in a decrease of neuronal response to synaptic stimulation.