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

3.1K
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:
3.1K
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.6K
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
1.6K
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

1.7K
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
1.7K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

2.1K
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...
2.1K
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

828
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
828
Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking01:17

Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking

1.2K
Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, involves individuals engaging in activities ranging from simple walking to more complex behaviors such as driving. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the slow-wave sleep stages 3 and 4 early in the night when the person is not dreaming, contradicting the myth that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams.
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
1.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Sleep lowers waking theta frequency in the rat hippocampus.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

The Role of Plasticity in Replay: Stability Through Anti-Hebbian Rules.

Hippocampus·2026
Same author

Local Neuronal Ensembles That Coreactivate across Regions during Sleep Are Preferentially Stabilized.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2025
Same author

Prefrontal cortex down states can be triggered by CA1 stimulation and are enhanced by long-term potentiation in urethane-anesthetized rats.

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)·2025
Same author

Acquisition of auditory discrimination mediated by different processes through two distinct circuits linked to the lateral striatum.

eLife·2025
Same author

Firing Activities of REM- and NREM-Preferring Neurons Are Differently Modulated by Fast Network Oscillations and Behavior in the Hippocampus, Prelimbic Cortex, and Amygdala.

eNeuro·2025
Same journal

Nighttime light exposure is associated with metabolic dysfunction in schizophrenia: A cross-sectional analysis of the LENS study.

Sleep·2026
Same journal

Sleep Need Outcompetes Preparation: Reframing Sleep Initiation Through Naturalistic Behaviour.

Sleep·2026
Same journal

The Quest for Automated Pediatric Sleep Scoring: Are We There Yet?

Sleep·2026
Same journal

Sex Differences in the Sleep Architecture and Sleep-Disordered Breathing in C57BL/6 J Mice.

Sleep·2026
Same journal

Differential Effects of Prenatal Depression and Anxiety on Infant Sleep: Dual-Pathway Mechanisms Involving the HPA Axis and the Gut-Brain Axis.

Sleep·2026
Same journal

Metabolic Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Two Sides of the Same Coin.

Sleep·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
10:56

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice

Published on: August 2, 2017

10.6K

Low Activity Microstates During Sleep.

Hiroyuki Miyawaki1,2, Yazan N Billeh3, Kamran Diba1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Box 413, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI.

Sleep
|April 22, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers identified "LOW" activity sleep, a distinct non-REM sleep state with diminished brain activity. This state may offer a restorative function by providing respite from high-activity sleep periods.

Keywords:
EEG spectral analysisNREM Sleep.SIASlow wave sleepinfraslowmicroarousals

More Related Videos

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
08:58

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

10.6K
Microstate and Omega Complexity Analyses of the Resting-state Electroencephalography
06:40

Microstate and Omega Complexity Analyses of the Resting-state Electroencephalography

Published on: June 15, 2018

10.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
10:56

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice

Published on: August 2, 2017

10.6K
Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
08:58

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

10.6K
Microstate and Omega Complexity Analyses of the Resting-state Electroencephalography
06:40

Microstate and Omega Complexity Analyses of the Resting-state Electroencephalography

Published on: June 15, 2018

10.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep is characterized by varying brain activity patterns.
  • Understanding these distinct patterns is crucial for comprehending sleep's function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and characterize a novel sleep state termed "LOW" activity sleep, defined by periods of diminished oscillatory and population spiking activity during non-REM sleep.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed spiking and local field potential (LFP) activity in rat hippocampus, neocortex, entorhinal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, postsubiculum, and anterior thalamus.
  • Utilized electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) recordings during natural wake/sleep cycles.
  • Compared LOW states with other brain states like OFF/DOWN states and quiet waking.

Main Results:

  • LOW activity sleep states are longer than OFF/DOWN states and involve a subset of "LOW-active" cells.
  • LOW states are preceded and followed by increased sharp-wave ripple activity, with decreased slow-wave activity and sleep spindles.
  • Diminished activity during LOW states was observed simultaneously across multiple brain regions, distinguishing it from quiet waking and other sleep states.

Conclusions:

  • LOW activity sleep represents a unique microstate within non-REM sleep.
  • This state may provide a restorative function by offering respite from high-activity sleep.