Lee et al 2014 . GABAergic inhibition and Sleep-Wake cycle

 

1. Lee, E., Lee, J., Kim, E., Park, J., & Kim, Y. (2014). GABAergic inhibition of histaminergic neurons regulates active waking but not the sleep-wake switch or propofol-induced loss of consciousness. Nature Communications, 5, 4249. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5249

The study by Lee et al. (2014) investigated the role of GABAergic inhibition on histaminergic neurons in regulating sleep and wakefulness. The researchers focused on two specific aspects of sleep-wake regulation: active waking and the sleep-wake switch.

Active waking is a state of wakefulness in which an individual is alert and engaged in various activities, whereas the sleep-wake switch refers to the transition between sleep and wakefulness. The researchers used mice as a model organism and performed experiments to investigate the effects of GABAergic inhibition on these two aspects of sleep-wake regulation.

The researchers found that GABAergic inhibition of histaminergic neurons played a significant role in regulating active waking, but had no effect on the sleep-wake switch or propofol-induced loss of consciousness. This suggests that the histaminergic system may be specifically involved in regulating the state of active waking, which is characterized by increased attention and motor activity.

Overall, this study sheds light on the complex neural mechanisms involved in sleep-wake regulation and highlights the importance of GABAergic inhibition in controlling specific aspects of wakefulness. The findings have potential implications for the development of new treatments for sleep disorders and disorders of consciousness.