Mechanisms of sleep control.
Neurons in the dorsolateral pontine reticular formation, in interaction with other brainstem and forebrain regions, generate the basic phenomena of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Non-REM sleep is the product of multiple control mechanisms in the forebrain and brainstem. Despite considerable progress in the identification of generation mechanisms, the functions of sleep remain a mystery. I hypothesize that REM sleep has a role in the regulation of receptor sensitivity in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Siegel
J M
JM
Neurobiology Research, Sepulveda Veterans Administration Medical Center, California 91343.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*