Our primary interest is in understanding the evolution, function and disorders of REM sleep.
A major focus of the laboratory is on the peptide hypocretin (orexin), whose loss is responsible for narcolepsy. Our work on the control of sleep and motor activity has relevance to an understanding of sleep apnea, REM sleep behavior disorder, restless legs syndrome and nocturnal bruxism.
Recent Publications of Interest:
About Narcolepsy:
A Consensus Definition of Cataplexy in Mouse Models of Narcolepsy, Sleep 2009
Systemic and nasal delivery of orexin-a (hypocretin-1) reduces the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance in nonhuman primates J. Neuroscience (2007).
Hypocretin (Orexin) cell loss in Parkinson's disease Brain, 2007
Narcolepsy and the hypocretin system-where motion meets emotion Nature Clinical Practice Neurology, 2006
Narp immunostaining of human hypocretin (orexin) neurons: loss in narcolepsy Neurology, 2005
Treatment with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents delays onset of canine genetic narcolepsy and reduces symptom severity Experimental Neurology, 2004
Pattern of hypocretin (orexin) soma and axon loss, and gliosis, in human narcolepsy Brain Pathology, 2003
Reduced Number of Hypocretin Neurons in Human Narcolepsy Neuron, 2000
Society for Neuroscience Abstract, 2000
Recent Developments in Narcolepsy Research, An Explanation for Patients and the General Public The Narcolepsy Network Newsletter, 2000
Narcolepsy (A General Introduction) Scientific American, 2000
Systemic Administration of Hypocretin-1 Reduces Cataplexy and Normalizes Sleep and Waking Durations in Narcoleptic Dogs Sleep Research Online, 2000
About Sleep Mechanisms:
Rapid changes in glutamate levels in the posterior hypothalamus across sleep-wake states in freely behaving rats, Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 2008.
State-Dependent Changes in Glutamate, Glycine, GABA, and Dopamine Levels in Cat Lumbar Spinal Cord. J Neurophysiol, 2008
An Endogenous Glutamatergic Drive onto Somatic Motoneurons Contributes to the Stereotypical Pattern of Muscle Tone across the Sleep-Wake Cycle. J. Neuroscience 2008.
Cortical acetylcholine release is lateralized during asymmetrical slow wave sleep in northern fur seals. J. Neuroscience 2007.
The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of: Anatomical Substrates Of REM Sleep Nature Neuroscience, 2006
Behavioral Correlates of Activity in Identified Hypocretin (Orexin) Neurons Neuron, 2005
REM Sleep Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine, 2005
Hypocretin (orexin): role in normal behavior and neuropathology Annual Review of Psychology, 2004 (Figure 3, Synaptic interactions of HCRT neurons [PPT])
Changes in inhibitory amino acid release linked to pontine-induced atonia: an in vivo microdialysis study Journal of Neuroscience, 2003.(Pdf)
About Sleep:
Do all animals sleep? Trends in Neuroscience (2008)
Unearthing the Phylogenetic Roots of Sleep. Current Biology (2008)
Fur seals display a strong drive for bilateral slow wave sleep while on land J. Neuroscience (2008)
Cetacean sleep: An unusual form of mammalian sleep. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (2008)
EEG asymmetry and spectra power during sleep in the northern fur seal. Journal of Sleep Research (2008).
Behavioral aspects of sleep in bottlenose dolphin mothers and their calves. Physiol Behav 2007
Clues to the Functions of Mammalian Sleep Nature, 2005 [Source Data]
Continuous activity in cetaceans after birth Nature, 2005 [Supplimentary Information Pdf] Movie [.WMF 3.6 Mb][Commentary]
Why We Sleep Scientific American, 2003
The REM Sleep-Memory Consolidation Hypothesis Science, 2001
Sleep (A General Introduction) Encarta, 2000
Sleep & Dreaming Principles of Neuroscience, 2000
The Evolution of REM Sleep Handbook of Behavioral State Control, 1999
