How the superior colliculus controls eye movements during REM sleep
Role of the Superior Colliculus in Orienting Eye Movements during REM Sleep
This project will test whether rapid eye movements in REM sleep reflect the brain's internal 'viewpoint' by recording eye movements and brain cell activity in animals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309134 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will record neurons that encode head direction and simultaneous eye movements in sleeping animals to see whether eye shifts match the brain's internal orientation signals. The team will focus on the superior colliculus and anterodorsal thalamus using electrophysiology and neural decoding methods. By comparing decoded internal head direction during REM to rapid eye movements, they will look for a direct link between brain activity and dream-related eye motions. The work is basic neuroscience done at Northwestern University and does not involve enrolling patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not recruit human participants; it uses animal recordings and does not enroll patients.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment for sleep disorders or dream-related psychiatric symptoms are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this basic animal research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how the sleeping brain creates vivid visual experiences and help explain mechanisms behind dream-related or psychiatric symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have decoded internal head-direction signals during REM sleep, but using rapid eye movements as a reliable readout of that internal model is relatively novel and not yet well established.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Senzai, Yuta — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Senzai, Yuta
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.