Electrophysiology of sleep–wake systems

Abstract

Neurons distributed through the brainstem, hypothalamus, and basal forebrain have different profiles of discharge in relation to cortical activity and/or behavior and across sleep-wake states, which they accordingly regulate. Glutamate and GABA neurons are heterogeneous, being (1) maximally active with cortical activation during Wake and paradoxical (REM) sleep (PS), (2) max-active with behavioral arousal during Wake, (3) max-active with slow wave activity during slow wave sleep (SWS) or (4) max-active with behavioral quiescence during sleep. Other modulatory neurons are homogeneous, including cholinergic neurons as Wake/PS-max active, noradrenergic, histaminergic and orexinergic as Wake-max active, and melanin concentrating hormone neurons as sleep-max active.