Novel Insights into the Sleeping, Waking, and Dreaming Brain

Dear Colleagues, 

Over the past two decades, our understanding of the brain circuits that control sleep–wake behavior has grown considerably. However, it remains unclear how brain circuits can switch states within seconds while accumulating and dissipating sleep, which typically takes hours. This teleological problem of sleep regulation and function stems from the presumption that sleep evolved from a default state of wakefulness, a bias influenced by the egocentricity of waking consciousness. The collection aims to gather original research and review articles on the control of non-REM sleep, REM sleep, or wakeful consciousness. We seek contributions illuminating mechanisms underlying key aspects of sleep states, such as sleep need, circadian, ultradian, or behavioral gating of sleep, and REM sleep homeostasis. We welcome articles using innovative techniques to study the detailed circuit and synaptic basis of sleep/wake control, such as electrophysiological recording or imaging combined with pharmacologic or genetically driven perturbation of specific neurons or glial cells in animals capable of sleep or sleep-like behavior. Additionally, we invite studies on the molecular profiling of sleep and wake states, the crosstalk between sleep and peripheral physiological systems (e.g., the immune system or metabolism), and the physical and chemical factors influencing sleep and wakefulness. Importantly, we seek articles on sleep disorders' molecular and neuronal mechanisms.

Prof. Dr. Michael Lazarus
Collection Editor

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