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Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
Published on: June 19, 2019
Neuronal Mechanisms for Sleep/Wake Regulation and Modulatory Drive
Ada Eban-Rothschild1, Lior Appelbaum2, Luis de Lecea3
1Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Abstract:
Humans have been fascinated by sleep for millennia. After almost a century of scientific interrogation, significant progress has been made in understanding the neuronal regulation and functions of sleep. The application of new methods in neuroscience that enable the analysis of genetically defined neuronal circuits with unprecedented specificity and precision has been paramount in this endeavor. In this review, we first discuss electrophysiological and behavioral features of sleep/wake states and the principal neuronal populations involved in their regulation. Next, we describe the main modulatory drives of sleep and wakefulness, including homeostatic, circadian, and motivational processes. Finally, we describe a revised integrative model for sleep/wake regulation.
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