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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Sleep
Hirofumi Toda1, Mi Shi1, Julie A Williams1
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Abstract:
Sleep is important for cognitive ability, and perturbations of sleep are associated with a myriad of brain disorders. However, how sleep promotes health and function during wake is poorly understood. To address the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying sleep, we use the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a genetic model. Forward genetic approaches in flies were critical for deciphering molecular mechanisms of the circadian clock. Using similar approaches, we and others are gaining insights into the pathways that control sleep amount.
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