Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors

Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a neurological disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs due to uncomfortable sensations. These sensations typically occur during periods of rest or inactivity, particularly when lying down or sitting, and can severely disrupt sleep.
The exact cause of RLS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate muscle movement. Imbalances in dopamine levels...

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
Unlike...

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax muscle tone and alleviate painful muscle contractions. However, the choice of skeletal muscle relaxants depends on the duration of the surgical procedure in order to minimize potential side effects. Skeletal muscle relaxants like neuromuscular blocking agents [NMBAs] are commonly employed as adjuvants alongside general anesthetics in clinical settings. NMBAs are also used to maintain controlled ventilation during surgery of the larynx or pharynx as...

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll

Rigidity and myotonia are distinct abnormalities of muscle tone that affect resistance and relaxation during movement. Although both involve altered muscle contraction, they arise from different neurological and muscular mechanisms.CharacteristicsRigidity is characterized by uniform resistance to passive movement across the entire range, independent of speed, affecting flexors and extensors equally. It may appear as lead-pipe rigidity (smooth, constant resistance) or cogwheel rigidity...

Peripherally and Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: A Comparison

Peripherally and Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: A Comparison

Skeletal muscle relaxants can target the central nervous system [CNS] to reduce muscle tension or act directly at the neuromuscular junction to induce temporary paralysis. These two classes of muscle relaxants are called centrally acting muscle relaxants and peripherally acting muscle relaxants. They differ in their action, mechanism, administration route, and clinical uses.
Centrally acting muscle relaxants can be further divided into spasmolytic and antispasmodic drugs. Spasmolytic drugs,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Hands on for Health Equity: Simulation and Spaced Reflection in Graduate Medical Education.

Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges·2026

Same author

Academic Career Design: A Model for Personalizing Today's Academic Neurology and Neuroscience Work Environment.

Neurology. Education·2025

Same author

Curriculum Innovation: The Osler Apprenticeship in Neurology: Building a Sustainable Pathway for Learners Interested in Medical Education.

Neurology. Education·2025

Same author

An Initial Examination of Couple Therapy for PTSD Outcomes Among Black/African American Adults: Findings from an Uncontrolled Trial with Military Dyads.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Awakening to sleep: Sixteen years of World Sleep Day global initiatives and future directions.

Sleep medicine·2025

Same author

The Historical Case for a Strong and Diverse Neurology Clerkship Leadership Team.

Neurology. Education·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Published on: April 18, 2011

Update in restless legs syndrome.

Rachel E Salas¹, Charlene E Gamaldo, Richard P Allen

¹Department of Neurology, Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. rsalas3@jhmi.edu

Current Opinion in Neurology

|June 29, 2010

Summary

Recent advances in restless legs syndrome (RLS) highlight the iron-dopamine link and dopaminergic dysfunction. Despite progress, RLS remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, necessitating further research into novel therapies.

More Related Videos

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Published on: October 14, 2021

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: October 20, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Published on: April 18, 2011

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Published on: October 14, 2021

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: October 20, 2023

Area of Science:

Neurology
Pharmacology

Background:

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) has been recognized since the 17th century.
Recent years have seen significant clinical and scientific progress in RLS diagnosis and understanding.
The development of dopaminergic treatments has been a key driver of these advances.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent discoveries in RLS, focusing on the iron-dopamine connection and dopaminergic pathology.
To discuss the implications of these findings for understanding RLS morbidity and associated conditions.
To explore new treatment approaches informed by recent scientific developments.

Main Methods:

Review of recent scientific literature on RLS.
Analysis of the connection between iron, dopamine, and RLS symptoms.
Examination of the impact of dopaminergic treatments on RLS understanding and management.

Main Results:

Discovery of the critical link between iron and dopamine in RLS.
Elucidation of basic dopaminergic pathology underlying RLS symptoms.
New insights into the morbidity associated with RLS and its comorbidities.
Support for novel therapeutic strategies based on these findings.

Conclusions:

Significant progress has been made in understanding, diagnosing, and treating RLS.
RLS remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, particularly in moderate-to-severe cases.
There is a continued need for research to improve current therapies and develop novel treatments for RLS.