Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep the brain exhibits activity similar to waking. Despite this activity, the motor system is forced into a state of paralysis called REM sleep atonia. Though muscle tone is highly suppressed, this atonia is punctuated by phasic twitches. Here, the red nucleus (RN), a predominantly glutamatergic motor center in the midbrain, is identified as a potential region involved in the control of REM sleep twitches. Using a pharmacogentic technique termed Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), the RN was stimulated during REM sleep to determine its effect on muscle tone. I found that activation of the RN and its glutamatergic neurons increases muscle activity during REM sleep by increasing the number of phasic twitches. This increase disrupts the normal pattern of muscle activity seen during REM sleep. These results bring to light a new area of motor control during REM sleep.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Daniel W. Li
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2788379179