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Neurotransmitters involved during wakefulness NREM and REM sleep
What are the major neurotransmitters involved during wakefulness NREM and REM sleep?
The main neurotransmitters involved in promoting wakefulness include
- acetylcholine
- dopamine
- glutamate
- histamine
- hypocretin/orexin
- norepinephrine
- serotonin
The main neurotransmitters involved in promoting sleep include acetylcholine, adenosine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glycine. Here is the table with summary of the location and action of the major neurotransmitters that are known to participate in the sleep–wake cycle.
Summary of Neurotransmitters Involved in the Sleep Wake Cycle
| Neurotransmitter | Location | Activity Level during Sleep–Wake Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Acetylcholine | Dorsal midbrain, pons, pendunculopontine, lateral–dorsal tegmental areas | High during wakefulness and REM sleep; low during NREM |
| Norepinephrine | Locus ceruleus | Active during wakefulness, less active during NREM, inactive during REM |
| Histamine | Tuberomammillary nucleus in posterior hypothalamus | High during wakefulness, lower in NREM, lowest in REM |
| Serotonin | Median and dorsal raphe | Active during wakefulness, less active during NREM, inactive during REM |
| Dopamine | Substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area | High during wakefulness, low in NREM/REM |
| Orexin/hypocretin | Lateral and posterior hypothalamus | Active during wakefulness, less active in NREM; controversial whether active during REM |
| GABA | Ventrolateral preoptic area, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal forebrain, cerebral cortex | Active during NREM, slightly less active in REM, inactive during wakefulness |
| Adenosine | Basal forebrain | High during wakefulness, low during NREM/REM sleep |
| Glycine | Forebrain and spinal cord | Promotes sleep; contributes to REM-sleep-related muscle atonia/hypotonia |
REM, Rapid eye movement; NREM, nonrapid eye movement; GABA, gamma-hydroxybutyrate.
