Researchers at University of Tsukuba have identified a previously uncharacterized neural circuit that directly links emotional processing to arousal. In the pathway, GABAergic neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)—part of the extended amygdala—promote wakefulness by activating glutamatergic neurons in the deep mesencephalic nucleus (DpMe) of the midbrain. This circuit may be a key mechanism underlying stress-induced sleep disturbances.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com
