Cracking the Code of Rebound Sleep

Researchers discovered that the brain’s primary inhibitory neurons, called parvalbumin neurons, play a crucial role in regulating deep sleep or rebound sleep that occurs after prolonged wakefulness.

We have all experienced at one time or another that when we are sleep deprived, such as when we pull an all-nighter, we feel a strong sense of sleepiness, and our subsequent sleep is longer and deeper than usual.

Sleep Talking
Sleep Talking, Sleep Terrors and Nightmares are sleep disorders, that commonly occur in children

‘Brain's #sleep switch found! Parvalbumin neurons control that deep, post-all-nighter sleep. #sleepscience #neuroscience #goodsleep’

This indicates that the brain has a mechanism (sleep homeostasis) that records the history of wakefulness and compensates for the sleep needed based on that history. However, the mechanism of sleep homeostasis in the brain is not well understood.

Unraveling the Mystery of Rebound Sleep

By experimentally depriving mice of sleep, this research group showed that PV-expressing neurons in the cerebral cortex are activated when sleepiness increases and rebound sleep occurs.

Furthermore, they elucidated that the activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), a protein phosphorylation enzyme, causes rebound sleep by activating PV-expressing neurons in response to sleepiness.

Quiz on Sleep Walking
Introduction Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is the act of getting up and walking around while in a state of sleep. It is more common in children and young adults during deep sleep. It can be caused by tiredness, lack of sleep, ...

This study reveals a part of the molecular and neural mechanisms of sleep homeostasis, one of the major mysteries of sleep science. These results are expected to lead to the development of methods to appropriately control sleepiness while quantitatively monitoring it.

Source-Eurekalert

Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Measure your daytime sleepiness using this simple interactive tool, based on Epworth Sleepiness disorder Scale. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a type of hypersomnia characterized by persistent sleepiness and lack of energy.

Foods Inducing Sound Sleep
Insomnia has become a serious health problem and people tend to depend on quick yet risky solutions to get rid of it. But here is the list of nature's best sleep inducing foods right in our kitchen.