Neurobiology of Sleep

The neurobiology of sleep and narcolepsy is reviewed. Non-rapid eye movement
(NREM) sleep is generated by neurons in the preoptic region of the hypothalamus and
adjacent basal forebrain. Lesions in these regions cause insomnia. Stimulation of these
regions rapidly produces sleep onset. The key brain structure for generating REM sleep is
the pons and adjacent portions of the midbrain. Damage to the pons and/or caudal
midbrain can cause abnormalities in REM sleep. The persistent sleepiness of narcolepsy is a
result of a loss of hypocretin function.