The How and Why of Sleep - May 3, 2023

Explore the fundamental biological process of sleep and its crucial impact on human health in this 46-minute lecture where Yang Dan presents groundbreaking research on sleep generation mechanisms. Discover how her team employs advanced techniques including optogenetics, electrophysiology, imaging, and gene expression profiling to identify sleep-controlling neurons. Learn about the complex distributed network spanning the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain that regulates sleep, and understand how sleep neurons integrate with central somatic and autonomic motor circuits. Delve into cutting-edge research examining sleep's interaction with cardiovascular, immune, and neuroendocrine systems to uncover the essential purposes of this vital biological function.