Sleep remains one of the most mysterious yet ubiquitous animal behaviors. We review
current perspectives on the neural systems that regulate sleep/wake states in mammals and …

Considerable advances in our understanding of the mechanisms and functions of rapid-eye-
movement (REM) sleep have occurred over the past decade. Much of this progress can be …

Highlights•Glutamatergic neurons in the parabrachial nucleus provide main ascending
arousal influence from the brainstem.•GABAergic neurons in the brainstem provide the main …

How does cognition regulate innate behaviors? While the cognitive functions of the cortex
have been extensively studied, we know much less about how cognition can regulate innate …

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) enables mammals to respond to situations, including internal
states, with appropriate actions. One such internal state could be 'tiredness'. Here, using …

Colocalization of small-molecule and neuropeptide transmitters is common throughout the
nervous system of all animals. The resulting co-transmission, which provides conjoint …

Signals of energy homeostasis interact closely with neural circuits of motivation to control
food intake. An emerging hypothesis is that the transition to maladaptive feeding behavior …

The hypothalamus is among the most phylogenetically conserved regions in the vertebrate
brain, reflecting its critical role in maintaining physiological and behavioural homeostasis. By …

The neural mechanisms underlying memory regulation during sleep are not yet fully
understood. We found that melanin concentrating hormone–producing neurons (MCH …

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a small cyclic peptide expressed in all mammals,
mainly in the hypothalamus. MCH acts as a robust integrator of several physiological …