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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM
Published on: September 23, 2021
Sleep abnormalities in mouse models of depression: a systematic review
Alberto Potenzieri1, Andrea Escelsior2, Gianluca Serafini2
1Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
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Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in people with major depressive disorder (MDD) and contribute to a vicious cycle that exacerbates both conditions. Electroencephalographic (EEG)-based sleep features of people with MDD are well described in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, sleep abnormalities in mouse models of MDD remain poorly characterized. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the face validity of mouse models of MDD in relation to sleep alterations. Among the 22 articles we identified, the most consistently represented features of sleep disturbances in mouse models were increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep fragmentation. A blunted response to sleep deprivation was reported but only in a few studies and requires further investigation. Data regarding delta and theta power were limited and showed heterogeneous results. By providing a comprehensive summary of all mouse models in the field, our study serves as a resource to confirm the utility of animal models and guide researchers in studying sleep alterations in MDD.
