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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
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Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
Published on: June 19, 2019
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Neural circuits and emotional processing in rapid eye movement sleep
Liu-Yan Chang1, Yue-Qian Wang1, Zhe Li1
1Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|December 22, 2025
Summary
Rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) is vital for emotion regulation, but its initiation and termination mechanisms are unclear. Future research will explore REMS neural circuits and their link to psychiatric disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Mammalian sleep comprises NREMS (75%) and REMS (25%).
- REMS is evolutionarily conserved and crucial for emotion regulation.
- REMS dysregulation is linked to PTSD and depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the neural mechanisms of REMS initiation and termination.
- To summarize the role of REMS in negative emotion processing.
- To identify key questions for future REMS research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of mammalian REMS.
- Analysis of brain anatomy and neural circuits involved in REMS.
- Summary of REMS's role in emotion processing.
Main Results:
- REMS involves distributed networks across the cortex, brainstem, and hypothalamus.
- Evidence implicates cortical and brainstem regions in REMS regulation.
- REMS plays a significant role in processing negative emotions.
Conclusions:
- Understanding REMS neural mechanisms is crucial for addressing associated psychiatric disorders.
- Further research is needed to elucidate REMS's precise initiation, termination, and pathophysiological links.
- Future studies should focus on the identified open questions in REMS research.
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