title: The role of the thalamus in sleep, pineal melatonin production, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
abstract: The thalamus has a strong nonphotic influence on sleep, circadian rhythmicity, pineal melatonin production, and secretion. The opening of the sleep gate for nonrapid eye movement sleep is a thalamic function but it is assisted by melatonin which acts by promoting spindle formation. Thus, melatonin has a modulatory influence on sleep onset and maintenance. A remarkable similarity exists between spindle behavior, circadian rhythmicity, and pineal melatonin production throughout life. Together, the thalamic and chronobiological control of sleep leads to a new and improved understanding of the pathophysiology of circadian rhythm sleep disorders and also of the principles of sleep hygiene interventions.
authors.affiliation: Melatonin Research Group, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. jjan@cw.bc.ca
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Russel J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Wasdell
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bax