Certain nerve cells residing in a part of the mouse brain called the ventral tegmental area can pump out dopamine, a molecule that has been linked to pleasure, movement and learning, among other things. These cells can deliver dopamine to the amygdalae, two almond-shaped structures deep in the brain that are closely tied to emotions.
Next, the researchers forced the mice into the REM phase by controlling those dopamine-producing nerve cells using lasers and genetic techniques — a method called optogenetics. Compelled with light, the nerve cells released dopamine in the amygdalae while mice were in non-REM sleep. The mice then shifted into REM sleep sooner than they typically did, after an average of about two minutes compared with about eight minutes for mice that weren’t prompted to release dopamine.
, called cataplexy, shares features with REM sleep and can accompany narcolepsy . Stimulating these dopamine-making nerve cells while mice were awake caused the mice to stop moving and fall directly into REM sleep.
The results help clarify a trigger for REM in mice; whether a similar thing happens in people isn’t known, 🙄🙄🙄🙄
SLEEEEEEP!
Can they do it for me too?
So can mac and cheese.
say no to dopamine
wheredya get these here lasers?
How bout we stop this crap
NeuroCleiton
Interesting
What's the frequency of the shifts?