Speaker: Professor Luis de Lecea
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Stanford Medicine
Stanford University
USA
Title: Neuromodulation of sleep/wake states
Abstract: I will show how the use of optogenetics and circuit mapping methods have transformed our understanding of the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. I will show recent examples from our laboratory describing new circuits and mechanisms of sleep/wake transitions throughout lifespan. In particular, neuronal connections to the Hypocretin system in the lateral hypothalamus have a critical role in establishing sleep architecture both in young and older animals. I will also discuss the identification of voltage-dependent potassium channels as key modulators of Hrcrt excitability and a potential pharmacological target to treat sleep fragmentation in aged patients.
Our laboratory is developing ultrasound as a new approach to sleep intervention in mouse models. We have developed a new method to screen and optimize parameter conditions of fUS-mediated cell type specific modulation of neuronal activity in arousal circuits , with significant effects on sleep architecture. The results from these experiments pave the way towards non-invasive modulation of sleep/wake states in humans.
Recommended readings
- Li SB, Damonte VM, Chen C, Wang GX, Kebschull JM, Yamaguchi H, Bian WJ, Purmann C, Pattni R, Urban AE, Mourrain P, Kauer JA, Scherrer G, de Lecea L. Hyperexcitable arousal circuits drive sleep instability during aging. Science. 2022 Feb 25;375(6583):eabh3021. doi: 10.1126/science.abh3021. Epub 2022 Feb 25. PMID: 35201886.
- Eban-Rothschild A, Appelbaum L, de Lecea L . Neuronal Mechanisms for Sleep/Wake Regulation and Modulatory Drive. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Dec 5. doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.294. Review.
- Adamantidis, A. and de Lecea L. Sleep and the hypothalamus. Science 2023
- Murphy KR, Farrell JS, Bendig J, Mitra A, Luff C, Stelzer IA, Yamaguchi H, Angelakos CC, Choi M, Bian W, DiIanni T, Pujol EM, Matosevich N, Airan R, Gaudillière B, Konofagou EE, Butts-Pauly K, Soltesz I, de Lecea L. Optimized ultrasound neuromodulation for non-invasive control of behavior and physiology. Neuron. 2024 Jul 29:S0896-6273(24)00493-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.07.002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39079529.
About Neuroscience Seminars
Neuroscience seminars at the QBI play a major role in the advancement of neuroscience in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary goal of these seminars is to promote excellence in neuroscience through the exchange of ideas, establishing new collaborations and augmenting partnerships already in place.
Seminars in the QBI Auditorium on Level 7 are held on Wednesdays at 12-1pm, which are sometimes simulcast on Zoom (with approval from the speaker). We also occassionally hold seminars from international speakers via Zoom. The days and times of these seminars will vary depending on the time zone of the speaker. Please see each seminar listed below for details.
