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Review
. 1990 Jan;7(1):49-65.
doi: 10.1097/00004691-199001000-00005.

Mechanisms of sleep control

Affiliations
Review

Mechanisms of sleep control

J M Siegel. J Clin Neurophysiol. 1990 Jan.

Abstract

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.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Key cell groups studied in relation to sleep control are drawn on a sagittal outline of the cat brain. Abbreviations: BF/PO, basal forebrain/ preoptic region; PH, posterior hypothalamus; DR, dorsal raphe; RPO, nucleus reticularis pontis oralis; LC, locus ceruleus; 6, abducens nucleus; 7G, genu of the seventh nerve; NGC, nucleus gigantocellularis; NMC, nucleus magnocellularis; NPM, nucleus paramedianus; NS, nucleus solitarius.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
Coronal section of the feline pons shows the overlap of regions involved in REM sleep control. Coronal sections 3.1 and 4.0 mm caudal to stereotaxic zero. Abbreviations: BC, brachium conjunctivum; 5-M, motor nucleus of the trigeminal; PT, pyramidal tract. (Reproduced with permission from Siegel and Rogawski, 1988.)

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