Scientists uncover sleep-regulating brain cells

Scientists at the University of Basel, along with medical teams from the Beitth Israel Deaconess Center and the University of Auburn, have developed a new understanding of the mechanisms controlling sleep and wakefulness in the brain. They identified two groups of neurons in two key regions: one in the "median raphe nucleus" in the brainstem, and the other in the anterior part of the optive area in the hypothalamus, which monitors wakefulness duration and promotes sleep when needed. Reducing activity in these neurons in mice decreased sleep by approximately 70% and allowed them to stay awake longer without significant behavioral disturbances, while activating these neurons led to a two- to threefold increase in sleep and the appearance of slow brain waves indicative of deep sleep. However, the study, conducted on mice, revealed that measuring wakefulness in the brain remains imprecise, highlighting the need for further research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms regulating sleep and wakefulness.

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