The Sublaterodorsal Tegmental Nucleus Functions to Couple Brain State and Motor Activity during REM Sleep and Wakefulness.

Appropriate levels of muscle tone are needed to support waking behaviors such as sitting or standing. However, it is unclear how the brain functions to couple muscle tone with waking behaviors. Cataplexy is a unique experiment of nature in which muscle paralysis involuntarily intrudes into otherwise normal periods of wakefulness.

Activation of the Hypoglossal to Tongue Musculature Motor Pathway by Remote Control.

Reduced tongue muscle tone precipitates obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and activation of the tongue musculature can lessen OSA. The hypoglossal motor nucleus (HMN) innervates the tongue muscles but there is no pharmacological agent currently able to selectively manipulate a channel (e.g.

REM Sleep at its Core - Circuits, Neurotransmitters, and Pathophysiology.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is generated and maintained by the interaction of a variety of neurotransmitter systems in the brainstem, forebrain, and hypothalamus. Within these circuits lies a core region that is active during REM sleep, known as the subcoeruleus nucleus (SubC) or sublaterodorsal nucleus. It is hypothesized that glutamatergic SubC neurons regulate REM sleep and its defining features such as muscle paralysis and cortical activation.

Cataplexy--clinical aspects, pathophysiology and management strategy.

Cataplexy is the pathognomonic symptom of narcolepsy, and is the sudden uncontrollable onset of skeletal muscle paralysis or weakness during wakefulness. Cataplexy is incapacitating because it leaves the individual awake but temporarily either fully or partially paralyzed. Occurring spontaneously, cataplexy is typically triggered by strong positive emotions such as laughter and is often underdiagnosed owing to a variable disease course in terms of age of onset, presenting symptoms, triggers, frequency and intensity of attacks.