Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Brain Waves01:23

Brain Waves

Brain waves are electrical signals generated by the neurons in the brain, which are regularly monitored to measure mental activities. Brain waves and their frequency ranges can be measured using an electroencephalogram or EEG. There are four main types of brain waves, each with distinct characteristics:

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Reproducible social phenotyping of 5xFAD mice in the Agora maze (Sociobox).

Behavioural brain research·2026
Same author

Announcement of special issue: 'Behavioural pharmacology of ketamine and psychedelic drugs'.

Behavioural pharmacology·2026
Same author

Timing matters: early administration of a high-affinity antibody targeting the tau repeat domain prevents aggregation in a mouse tauopathy model.

Alzheimer's research & therapy·2026
Same author

The Icelandic Mutation in the Murine APP Gene, mAPP<sup>A673T</sup>, on Amyloid-β Plaque Burden in the 5×FAD Alzheimer Model.

Journal of integrative neuroscience·2026
Same author

Effect of the Icelandic Mutation APP<sup>A673T</sup> in the Murine APP Gene on Phenotype of Line 66 Tau Mice.

Biomolecules·2026
Same author

Effects of hydromethylthionine mesylate and rivastigmine in a pharmacological mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Behavioural pharmacology·2025
Same journal

TAK-242 has sex-dependent effects on the acquisition of two-way active avoidance conditioning.

Behavioural brain research·2026
Same journal

Fear conditioning with five footshocks is sufficient to produce stress-enhanced fear learning in rats but does not produce physiological characteristics of stress.

Behavioural brain research·2026
Same journal

Behavioral characterization of bulbar sensorimotor function in a rat model of Alexander disease.

Behavioural brain research·2026
Same journal

Prenatal exposure to high- but not low-molecular-weight poly(I:C) produces selective sociability deficits in offspring.

Behavioural brain research·2026
Same journal

Understanding vulnerability through variability: a longitudinal twin study linking sex differences in neurodiversity, neurodevelopment and X-linked genetic mechanisms.

Behavioural brain research·2026
Same journal

Hippocampal plasticity predicts behavioral lateralization and stress resilience in laying hen chicks.

Behavioural brain research·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

The cholinergic system, EEG and sleep.

Bettina Platt1, Gernot Riedel

  • 1School of Medical Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK. b.platt@abdn.ac.uk

Behavioural Brain Research
|January 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter, influences cognition and arousal. Its role in brain activity, sleep, and neurological disorders is vital for understanding CNS function and developing new treatments.

More Related Videos

Recording Gamma Band Oscillations in Pedunculopontine Nucleus Neurons
09:04

Recording Gamma Band Oscillations in Pedunculopontine Nucleus Neurons

Published on: September 14, 2016

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

Recording Gamma Band Oscillations in Pedunculopontine Nucleus Neurons
09:04

Recording Gamma Band Oscillations in Pedunculopontine Nucleus Neurons

Published on: September 14, 2016

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurophysiology
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Acetylcholine is a critical excitatory neurotransmitter.
  • It plays a vital role in cognitive functions, alertness, and arousal.
  • Cholinergic pathways modulate brain activity, influencing wakefulness and sleep states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of acetylcholine in central nervous system (CNS) physiology and function.
  • To investigate the relationship between cholinergic activity, electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms, and arousal states.
  • To highlight the implications of cholinergic dysfunction in neurological and sleep disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of vigilance-specific electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings.
  • Examination of thalamo-cortical and brainstem-cortical cholinergic pathways.
  • Review of the impact of cholinergic projections from the basal forebrain.

Main Results:

  • EEG recordings reflect thalamo-cortical and brainstem-cortical cholinergic activity.
  • Cholinergic activity drives theta rhythms and cortical desynchronization.
  • Cholinergic pathways modulate wakefulness, REM sleep, and overall arousal.

Conclusions:

  • Acetylcholine significantly impacts CNS function, cognition, and sleep.
  • Disorders like dementia, epilepsy, and sleep disturbances are linked to cholinergic dysfunction.
  • Novel technologies offer potential for advanced diagnostics and therapeutics targeting cholinergic systems.