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

Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

1.2K
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...
1.2K
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

2.5K
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:
2.5K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

1.0K
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...
1.0K
Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking01:17

Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking

565
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...
565
Brain Waves01:23

Brain Waves

3.5K
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:
3.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A Transient Feature of the Inferior Olive Supports the Development of Cerebellar Internal Models.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same author

Twitching in sleeping premature infants provides a sensitive behavioral assay of early motor control.

iScience·2026
Same author

Homeostatic coupling of cortical and brainstem delta rhythms in sleeping infant rats.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Substrain-specific behavioral variation in female C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 mice.

Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience·2026
Same author

The Developmental Emergence of Tonic and Phasic REM Sleep in Rats.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same author

REM-sleep twitching in adults and the maintenance of specialized sensorimotor systems.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Circadian rhythms in metabolism and mental health: a reciprocal regulatory network with implications for metabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Current opinion in physiology·2026
Same journal

Mammary gland development and function in maternal obesity and gestational diabetes.

Current opinion in physiology·2026
Same journal

Myeloid cell renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in hypertension and inflammation.

Current opinion in physiology·2026
Same journal

Circadian physiology changes with aging: age is just a number, but circadian physiology keeps time.

Current opinion in physiology·2026
Same journal

Targeting metabolism to protect fertility and healthy pregnancy with SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1RAs.

Current opinion in physiology·2026
Same journal

Role of extracellular vesicle-mediated neurodegeneration in substance use disorders.

Current opinion in physiology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.3K

THE DEVELOPING BRAIN REVEALED DURING SLEEP.

Mark S Blumberg1,2,3, James C Dooley1, Greta Sokoloff1,2

  • 1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.

Current Opinion in Physiology
|September 1, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Newborn rat sleep is crucial for processing sensory input and developing brain connectivity. Sleep reveals early motor cortex activity, establishing maps before motor control emerges, informing infant embodiment understanding.

Keywords:
REM sleepbrain rhythmscorollary dischargeembodimentfunctional connectivitymyoclonic twitchingneurodevelopment disorderssensorimotor integrationsensory developmentsomatosensory

More Related Videos

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.7K
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

10.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.3K
Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.7K
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

10.3K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Sleep Research

Background:

  • Sleep is a significant part of early development.
  • Understanding infant brain activity requires studying sleep.
  • Recent advancements allow recording sleep in newborn rodents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of sleep in infant brain activity.
  • To explore sensory processing and functional connectivity during sleep in newborns.
  • To examine the developing primary motor cortex during sleep.

Main Methods:

  • Recording sleep-related brain activity in rat pups.
  • Analyzing sensory input processing during sleep versus wakefulness.
  • Mapping functional activity in the developing primary motor cortex.

Main Results:

  • Sleep, more than wakefulness, is critical for sensorimotor system processing and connectivity in rat pups.
  • Sleep uniquely demonstrates functional activity in the developing primary motor cortex.
  • A somatosensory map is established in the primary motor cortex during sleep before motor control develops.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep plays a vital role in sensorimotor system development and sensory processing in early life.
  • The developing primary motor cortex shows unique functional activity during sleep.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the origins of embodiment in human infants.