4. neuroanatomy & -chemistry of sleep regulation

Question 1

sleep is regulated on 2 levels:

Answer 1

1. global -> coordinated by sleep & wake nuclei and the thalamo-cortical circuit + circadian rythms
2. Local -> need for sleep is produced in cellular mechanisms in single neurons and networks

Question 2

what are sleep-promoting nuclei in brain?

Answer 2

Adenosin nitric oxide (basal forebrain)
Ventrolateral preoptic nucleus GABA (hypothalamus)
hypothalamus nuclei
Parafacial nucleus GABA (brain stem)

• inhibiting connections to wake-acting nuclei
• all send signals to cortex
• all release neurotransmitters that regulate neuronal excitablility

Question 3

what are the wake-promoting nuclei?

Answer 3

Achetylcholine & glutamate (basal forebrain)
Lateral hypothalamus orexin
Tuberomamillary histamine (hypothalamus)
LDT/PPT Achetylcholin (brain stem)
Raphe 5-HT serotonin (brain stem)
Locus coeruleus noradrenaline (brain stem)
VTA doopaminergic (brain stem)
Parabrachial nucleus (brain stem)

• the LDT/PPT sends signal to basal forebrain to stimulate sleep-related nuclei

Question 4

what are all the brain regions active in sleep regulation?

Question 5

what neurotransmitter does the locus coeruleus release?

Answer 5

noradrenalin

Question 5

what neurotransmitter does the raphe release?

Answer 5

serotonin

Question 6

what is the role of the thalamus in sleep regulation?

Answer 6

relay of info from the reticular nucleus to the cortex. disruption of info happens at the cortex, so thalamus is still working.