Why do we get sleepy? How neurons control sleep drive
Why does staying awake inevitably make us sleepy? Researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland, have identified neuronal populations in the brains of mice that become activated during prolonged wakefulness and are crucial for sleep drive. Their findings provide new insights into how the brain generates the need for sleep.
Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered neuronal populations in mice that become active during prolonged wakefulness and are crucial for sleep drive. This finding explains the increasing sleep pressure or "sleep drive" felt after sleepless nights, which makes the urge to sleep almost irresistible. Professor Alex Schier's team identified specific GABAergic and serotonergic neurons in the brainstem that monitor wakefulness and actively promote sleep.
When these neurons were artificially activated, mice slept longer and more deeply, confirming their role in generating sleep drive. Inhibiting these neurons significantly reduced sleep, allowing animals to stay more alert. The study, published in Nature, sheds light on how the brain generates sleep drive, offering new insights for sleep research and potential therapeutic approaches for sleep disorders and other physiological challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
