Elucidation of the sleep-inducing neuronal system

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18359
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: OISHI Yo 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 助教 (70554004)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 睡眠 / モチベーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The mechanism of sleep-wake control by motivation is unclear. We discovered a sleep increasing effect through the ventral pallidum of the basal forebrain by selective activation of the adenosine A2A receptor expressing neurons of the nucleus accumbens in the basal ganglia. Motivational stimuli decreased the activity of the nucleus accumbens A2A receptor neurons that project to the ventral pallidum, and the sleep amount was decreased accordingly. These results indicate that the nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum have important roles in motivation-related sleep regulation.

Free Research Field

脳神経科学