The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) regulates the circadian rhythms of body temperature (T(b)) and vigilance states in mammals. We studied rats in which circadian rhythmicity was abolished after SCN lesions (SCNx rats) to investigate the association between the ultradian rhythms of sleep-wake states and brain temperature (T(br)), which are exposed after lesions. Ultradian rhythms of T(br) (mean p...

K. Cai, M. Haris, A. Singh, F. Kogan, P. Waghray, W. Witschey, H. Hariharan, J. A. Detre, and R. Reddy CMROI, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States, Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Department of Neurology, and Center for Functional Neuroimaging, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United St...

Recent experimental studies investigating the neuronal regulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep have identified mutually inhibitory synaptic projections among REM sleep-promoting (REM-on) and REM sleep-inhibiting (REM-off) neuronal populations that act to maintain the REM sleep state and control its onset and offset. The control mechanism of mutually inhibitory synaptic interactions mirrors...

The tight regulation of sleep/wake states is critical for mental and physiological wellbeing. For example, dysregulation of sleep/wake systems predisposes individuals to metabolic disorders such as obesity and psychiatric problems, including depression. Contributing to this understanding, the last decade has seen significant advances in our appreciation of the complex interactions between brain...

The locus coeruleus–noradrenergic system exerts an activating influence on forebrain neuronal and behavioral activity states, in part through the actions of noradrenergic -receptors in the medial septal (MS) and medial preoptic (MPOA) areas. MPOA 1-receptors exert similar wake-promoting actions. The current study examines the influence of 1-receptors located within MS on sleep–wake state. In ad...

the cycle of protests that swept the united states beginning in 2010 has its roots in the growing disillusionment of a significant portion of the american populace in the prospects and opportunities for growth and development. despite the extensive myopia of various sectors of the american public vis a vis the rest of the world, if there is one thing much of the american public holds dear is th...

Despite the predominance of sleep in early infancy, developmental science has yet to play a major role in shaping concepts and theories about sleep and its associated ultradian and circadian rhythms. Here we argue that developmental analyses help us to elucidate the relative contributions of the brainstem and forebrain to sleep-wake control and to dissect the neural components of sleep-wake rhy...

Activity-dependent changes in synaptic efficacy (i.e., synaptic plasticity) can alter the way neurons communicate and process information as a result of experience. Synaptic plasticity mechanisms involve both molecular and structural modifications that affect synaptic functioning, either enhancing or depressing neuronal transmission. They include redistribution of postsynaptic receptors, activa...