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

578
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...
578
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

1.6K
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:
1.6K
Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

3.1K
A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
3.1K
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

530
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...
530
Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

1.6K
Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
1.6K
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

4.2K
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent...
4.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Modelling the effect of V1a receptor antagonism and its potential therapeutic effect in circadian disorders.

Npj biological timing and sleep·2026
Same author

Leveraging the Metabolic Fingerprint of Sleep Deprivation and Sleep Restriction for Forensic Applications: A Machine Learning Study in Oral Fluid Metabolomics.

Journal of proteome research·2026
Same author

Brain Health from Sleep EEG: A Multicohort, Deep Learning Biomarker for Cognition, Disease, and Mortality.

NEJM AI·2026
Same author

Welcome Journal of Sleep Research.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same author

Farewell to Dieter Riemann-Gratitude of the ESRS.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same author

Fusion Strategy Evaluation for Clustering Depression Subtypes Using Multimodal Physiological and Social Data.

Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference·2025
Same journal

Sleep in Women.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Future Research Direction for Women's Sleep Health.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Sleep Disturbance and Female Infertility.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Circadian Disruption Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Sleep Duration and Mortality in Women: Effect of Aging and Menopause.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
Same journal

Update on Restless Legs Syndrome Management during Pregnancy.

Sleep medicine clinics·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 21, 2025

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

9.9K

Sleep-Wake Neurochemistry.

Sebastian C Holst1, Hans-Peter Landolt2

  • 1Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel 4070, Switzerland.

Sleep Medicine Clinics
|June 6, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Waking and sleep states are regulated by complex interactions between neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, not single chemicals. Understanding these neurochemical pathways is key to developing effective sleep medications.

Keywords:
AcetylcholineAdenosineDopamineGABAGlutamateNeuromodulatorsNeurotransmittersNorepinephrine

More Related Videos

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

24.2K
The Sleep Nullifying Apparatus: A Highly Efficient Method of Sleep Depriving Drosophila
06:06

The Sleep Nullifying Apparatus: A Highly Efficient Method of Sleep Depriving Drosophila

Published on: December 14, 2020

3.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 21, 2025

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

9.9K
Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

24.2K
The Sleep Nullifying Apparatus: A Highly Efficient Method of Sleep Depriving Drosophila
06:06

The Sleep Nullifying Apparatus: A Highly Efficient Method of Sleep Depriving Drosophila

Published on: December 14, 2020

3.7K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Science
  • Neuropharmacology

Background:

  • Behavioral states naturally cycle between wakefulness and sleep (REM and NREM).
  • These complex processes are orchestrated by precise neurochemical changes involving multiple neurotransmitters and neuromodulators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a conceptual framework for understanding the neurochemical regulation of waking and sleep states.
  • To elucidate the complex interactions of neurochemicals involved in sleep-wake regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Overview of key neurotransmitters and neuromodulators.
  • Discussion of their spatial and fine-tuned neurochemical changes.
  • Focus on organized neuronal ensembles.

Main Results:

  • No single neurotransmitter or neuromodulator solely regulates waking and sleep.
  • Complex interactions among various neurochemicals are crucial for state regulation.
  • Specific neurochemicals discussed include glutamate, acetylcholine, GABA, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, histamine, hypocretin, MCH, adenosine, and melatonin.

Conclusions:

  • The regulation of waking and sleep is a result of intricate neurochemical crosstalk.
  • This framework aids in understanding the mechanisms of current sleep medications.
  • Further research into these complex interactions can lead to novel therapeutic strategies.