Finding the cells that put our brain to sleep
Neuroscientists have identified a rare population of cortical neurons, known as Sst-Chodl cells, that can independently trigger sleep rhythms in the brain. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that sleep is controlled exclusively by deep-brain subcortical regions.
Why it matters
Understanding the specific cellular mechanisms of sleep could lead to new treatments for sleep disorders and a deeper understanding of brain function.
You’re feeling sleepy… Finding the cells that put our brain to sleep Rare cells with widespread connectivity seem to be able to trigger sleep.
11 Credit: JUAN GAERTNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Credit: JUAN GAERTNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav For a long time, sleep research has treated the cerebral cortex as a passive follower reacting to signals from the deep brain. “Usually, sleep is associated with being controlled by subcortical regions,” said Geoffrey Terral, a neuroscientist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
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