The circadian clock is the mechanism that coordinates an organism’s internal rhythms with daily changes in the environment. To maintain synchronicity, the clock is continuously reset or entrained by signals from the environment, primarily light. But the molecular basis of clock entrainment is not well understood. A new study directed by Shimon Amir of ConcordiaContinueContinue reading “Shedding light on circadian clock control”
Tag Archives: sleep
A nap to remember
Sleep and memory are closely related. In fruit flies, rodents and humans, sleep deprivation impairs memory consolidation, whereas sleep improves memory. But the physiological nature of the relationship between sleep and memory is poorly understood. Does the mechanism that promotes sleep also consolidate memory, or are there two separate processes at work? Paula Haynes, BethanyContinueContinue reading “A nap to remember”
Lack of sleep impairs courtship in flies
Many young animals, whether human, rat or fruit fly, need lots of sleep. The existence of this trait across diverse taxonomic groups implies some fundamental importance, and some scientists are intrigued enough to take a closer look. What mechanisms allow young animals to sleep so much? And what happens if they sleep less? To addressContinueContinue reading “Lack of sleep impairs courtship in flies”
A wake-up call for injured neurons
After suffering a concussion or other traumatic brain injury (TBI), many people (70% or more) experience disturbances in their sleep–wake cycles, such as daytime sleepiness and nighttime insomnia. Such sleep problems can impair attention and memory formation, disrupt quality of life and delay cognitive recovery from TBI. There are currently no proven therapies available toContinueContinue reading “A wake-up call for injured neurons”
Easier estimation of an individual’s ‘body time’
For many organisms, including humans, the activity of certain biological processes and the expression of certain genes and proteins fluctuate predictably over a period of roughly 24 hours. These oscillations are maintained by an internal time-keeping mechanism called the circadian clock. ‘Body time’ refers to the setting of each individual’s circadian clock, which can varyContinueContinue reading “Easier estimation of an individual’s ‘body time’”
Specific melatonin receptor promotes a deeper sleep
Insomnia or insufficient sleep is a common malady, affecting millions of people worldwide. Mammalian sleep normally progresses from wakefulness to non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) before transitioning to rapid eye movement sleep (REMS). NREMS is also called slow-wave, deep or restorative sleep because important functions such as memory consolidation and metabolic regulation occur during thisContinueContinue reading “Specific melatonin receptor promotes a deeper sleep”
Sleep in a bottle?
The effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive function may be reversed by treatment with a compound called orexin-A, which occurs naturally in the mammalian brain. The new research was done with rhesus monkeys and may have therapeutic implications for people who suffer from narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, as well as those whose occupations demandContinueContinue reading “Sleep in a bottle?”
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