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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
Published on: June 19, 2019
[Neural Circuit Mechanisms Underlying REM Sleep]
Ayano Watanabe1, Takeshi Sakurai
1Ph.D. Program in Humanics, University of Tsukuba.
Abstract:
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is characterized by an "active brain" and an "immobile body," and its dysregulation has been implicated in disorders such as narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder. In this review, we first provide an overview of the basic features of REM sleep and then introduce the mechanisms by which dopamine signaling in the amygdala induces REM sleep and the inhibitory pathways in the medulla oblongata that mediate muscle atonia. Finally, we discussed how an integrated understanding of these neural circuits will advance our knowledge of the pathophysiology of sleep-related disorders and inform future therapeutic strategies.
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