In basic sleep research, the consolidated evidence of a robust and reliable marker of sleep need, the amount of electroencephalogram (EEG) slow wave activity (SWA) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, provided the best working model of sleep regulation [1]. According to the 2-process model of sleep regulation, SWA depends on the duration of previous wakefulness, and represents a marker of NREM sleep intensity; manipulations of sleep pressure lead to clear homeostatic recovery processes [1, 2]. Recent research, however, has shown that these recovery processes are mainly local and do not involve the entire cerebral cortex [3, 4]. Furthermore, experience-dependent plasticity in specific neural circuits during wakefulness induces localized changes in SWA during subsequent sleep [5, 6], supporting the idea that sleep regulation is a locally regulated process. This emerging notion of sleep as a local process could help to shift the focus of clinical sleep research from structural to functional characteristics of sleep disorders. We strongly believe that the extension of the theoretical framework of “local sleep” to the study of sleep disorders has a great heuristic potential. Likewise, the growing body of evidence pointing to (a) genetic determinants of normal and pathological sleep, in humans and in animals [7], which may be also responsible for the large individual differences in normal sleep [8], are candidates for a similar heuristic potential.

Neurobiology wakes up for research on sleep disorders: an integration of basic and clinical research / DE GENNARO, Luigi. - In: CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN. - ISSN 1381-6128. - 14:32(2008), pp. 3384-3385. [10.2174/138161208786549362]

Neurobiology wakes up for research on sleep disorders: an integration of basic and clinical research

DE GENNARO, Luigi
Conceptualization
2008

Abstract

In basic sleep research, the consolidated evidence of a robust and reliable marker of sleep need, the amount of electroencephalogram (EEG) slow wave activity (SWA) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, provided the best working model of sleep regulation [1]. According to the 2-process model of sleep regulation, SWA depends on the duration of previous wakefulness, and represents a marker of NREM sleep intensity; manipulations of sleep pressure lead to clear homeostatic recovery processes [1, 2]. Recent research, however, has shown that these recovery processes are mainly local and do not involve the entire cerebral cortex [3, 4]. Furthermore, experience-dependent plasticity in specific neural circuits during wakefulness induces localized changes in SWA during subsequent sleep [5, 6], supporting the idea that sleep regulation is a locally regulated process. This emerging notion of sleep as a local process could help to shift the focus of clinical sleep research from structural to functional characteristics of sleep disorders. We strongly believe that the extension of the theoretical framework of “local sleep” to the study of sleep disorders has a great heuristic potential. Likewise, the growing body of evidence pointing to (a) genetic determinants of normal and pathological sleep, in humans and in animals [7], which may be also responsible for the large individual differences in normal sleep [8], are candidates for a similar heuristic potential.
2008
neurobiology; wakes up; research; sleep disorders
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Neurobiology wakes up for research on sleep disorders: an integration of basic and clinical research / DE GENNARO, Luigi. - In: CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN. - ISSN 1381-6128. - 14:32(2008), pp. 3384-3385. [10.2174/138161208786549362]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
De Gennaro_Neurobiology_2008.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 33.25 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
33.25 kB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/73411
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 1
social impact