Sleep is a fundamental physiological process that is necessary for neural circuitry maturation, maintaining brain homeostasis, and processing memory information. The regulation of the sleep-waking cycle is complicated, involving numerous neural circuits and molecules in the brain, and it is a hot research topic right now. On one hand, it has been shown that the waking state is regulated by a complex interplay of neuroanatomical and neurochemical systems involving acetylcholine, dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, histamine, and hypocretin. On the other hand, the interactions between sleep-promoting neurons (regions) and wakefulness-promoting neurons (regions) are crucial for the sleep-wake circuit. The activity of sleep-promoting neurons in the anterior hypothalamus, for example, regulates the sleep-onset by inhibiting wake-promoting regions with GABA.
This Research Topic aims to understand the regulatory mechanism of the sleep-wake circuit and investigate the novel roles of sleep in maintaining whole-body homeostasis. We welcome all original research articles and reviews that focus on, but not limited to, the following topics:
- The functional and biological roles of sleep-promoting neurons (regions) and wakefulness-promoting neurons (regions) in regulating different stages of sleep, including NREM sleep, REM sleep and wakefulness.
- The regulatory interaction between sleep-promoting neurons (regions) and wakefulness-promoting neurons (regions).
- The novel role of sleep in maintaining body function, especially the functions of REM sleep in regulating immune function, hormone release, and learning, memory and cognitive function.
Sleep is a fundamental physiological process that is necessary for neural circuitry maturation, maintaining brain homeostasis, and processing memory information. The regulation of the sleep-waking cycle is complicated, involving numerous neural circuits and molecules in the brain, and it is a hot research topic right now. On one hand, it has been shown that the waking state is regulated by a complex interplay of neuroanatomical and neurochemical systems involving acetylcholine, dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, histamine, and hypocretin. On the other hand, the interactions between sleep-promoting neurons (regions) and wakefulness-promoting neurons (regions) are crucial for the sleep-wake circuit. The activity of sleep-promoting neurons in the anterior hypothalamus, for example, regulates the sleep-onset by inhibiting wake-promoting regions with GABA.
This Research Topic aims to understand the regulatory mechanism of the sleep-wake circuit and investigate the novel roles of sleep in maintaining whole-body homeostasis. We welcome all original research articles and reviews that focus on, but not limited to, the following topics:
- The functional and biological roles of sleep-promoting neurons (regions) and wakefulness-promoting neurons (regions) in regulating different stages of sleep, including NREM sleep, REM sleep and wakefulness.
- The regulatory interaction between sleep-promoting neurons (regions) and wakefulness-promoting neurons (regions).
- The novel role of sleep in maintaining body function, especially the functions of REM sleep in regulating immune function, hormone release, and learning, memory and cognitive function.
