The locus cœruleus regulates sleep cycles, but daytime stress can disrupt its activity. (IMAGE)
Caption
A restful night alternates in cycles between non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep states. The study from UNIL shows that a brain region called the "locus coeruleus" (in green) plays an important role in regulating these cycles. The green trace on the left shows the fluctuating activity of the locus coeruleus during normal sleep in a mouse. The trace on the right shows the same mouse after it was exposed to a phase of stress during the day. The cycles of its sleep are disrupted, and it wakes up more frequently due to stronger fluctuations in neuronal activity of the locus coeruleus.
Credit
A. Lüthi, G. Foustoukos, L.M.J. Fernandez (UNIL)
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