How the lower brain starts deep (NREM) sleep
Neural Control of NREM Sleep in the Medulla
This project maps brain cells and circuits that help people fall into deep (NREM) sleep to guide new treatments for sleep problems like insomnia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232339 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using precise tools that turn specific neurons on or off, record their calcium activity, trace their connections, and read their gene activity to find cells in the ventrolateral medulla that trigger the switch from wakefulness to NREM sleep. Most work is done in mammalian models to identify neurons that start sleep and map how they connect to the preoptic area. The team combines optogenetics, chemogenetics, in vivo calcium imaging, viral circuit tracing, and RNA sequencing to define the cellular and molecular features of sleep‑initiating circuits. The goal is to reveal targets that could be used in future therapies for human sleep disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have difficulty initiating sleep, such as people with insomnia, are the population that might ultimately benefit from this line of research.
Not a fit: People with sleep problems unrelated to falling asleep (for example, REM sleep behavior disorder or disorders of sleep maintenance) or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for therapies that help people fall asleep and treat insomnia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies using similar tools have successfully mapped arousal circuits, but identifying specific sleep‑initiating cells in the medulla is a newer and less-tested direction.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peng, Yueqing — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Peng, Yueqing
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.