A link between stress and restorative sleep

In this talk, Wisden will present the lab’s findings that certain types of stress can induce a restorative sleep. This is mediated by sleep-inducing circuitry in the midbrain, and in particular, inhibitory GABA neurons in the ventral tegmental area. A specific circuit allows animals to restore mental and body functions by sleeping, potentially providing a refined route for treating anxiety disorders. Wisden will also present new (unpublished) findings on basal ganglia circuitry that generates REM sleep and how this REM circuitry can modulate anxiety.