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

Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

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...
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

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:
Vision01:24

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

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...
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

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...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A hypothalamic-brainstem activity sequence underlies arousal fluctuations during daytime drowsiness.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Postpartum psychosis is associated with elevated neuromelanin-MRI signal in the midbrain.

Molecular psychiatry·2026
Same author

The neurovascular impulse response function differentially reflects intrinsic neuromodulation across cortical regions.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same author

Cortex-specific inversion of visual responses during sleep.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Spatial Frequency Tuning Follows Scale Invariance in the Human Visual Cortex.

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

Association between loneliness and hippocampal responses to dynamic social stimuli in psychotic disorders.

Psychological medicine·2025
Same journal

Plasmonic nanocomposite helices for weather-adaptive LiDAR function.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

Multidirectional strain-insensitive stretchable RF electronics.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

In-scanner thoughts contribute to resting-state functional connectivity.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

Metal-center electron affinity modulates multicolor electrochromism in 2D conjugated metal-organic frameworks.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

Hyperbranched dielectric polymer networks exhibiting giant energy storage density at 250 °C.

Nature communications·2026
Same journal

3D nanoprinting of metals by spatiotemporally confined hot electrons via multiple-electron excitations in nanocrystals.

Nature communications·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity
10:05

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity

Published on: May 7, 2017

Cortex-specific inversion of visual responses during sleep.

Nicholas G Cicero1,2,3, Michaela Klimova4,5, Louis Vinke6

  • 1Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, USA.

Nature Communications
|June 10, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Even during early sleep stages, the brain processes light. Visual thalamus responses remain intact, but visual cortex responses are suppressed, suggesting inhibitory circuits aid sensory isolation.

More Related Videos

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns
09:42

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns

Published on: May 12, 2019

Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording
13:40

Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording

Published on: September 8, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity
10:05

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity

Published on: May 7, 2017

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns
09:42

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns

Published on: May 12, 2019

Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording
13:40

Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording

Published on: September 8, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Science
  • Visual Processing

Background:

  • Sleep involves functional disengagement from the environment, reducing sensory input.
  • Light can still reach the brain through closed eyelids, and luminance changes are perceived.
  • Sensory information gating by the thalamus during sleep is debated, as some input reaches the cortex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how visual inputs are modulated during sleep.
  • To understand thalamic and cortical processing of visual information during sleep.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of sensory isolation during early sleep stages.

Main Methods:

  • Simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were used.
  • Luminance-modulated visual stimuli were presented to sleeping human participants.
  • Brain activity in response to visual stimuli was recorded during N1 and N2 sleep stages.

Main Results:

  • Visual thalamus responses to light remained intact during N1 and N2 sleep.
  • Early visual cortex responses to stimuli were significantly suppressed.
  • High-intensity stimulation paradoxically caused visual cortical deactivation, not activation.

Conclusions:

  • A cortical mechanism involving inhibitory circuits regulates visual cortex responses during sleep.
  • This inhibitory regulation leads to stimulus-driven deactivation in the visual cortex.
  • These findings suggest a mechanism facilitating sensory isolation in early sleep stages.
  • Meta_Description_Content