A significant breakthrough in the understanding of sleep mechanism opens new promise for treating sleep disorders and associated neuropsychiatric conditions: Scientists have pinpointed the melatonin receptor MT1 as a crucial regulator of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. REM sleep is crucial for dreaming, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation. In the brain, the melatonin MT1 receptor affects a type of neuron that synthesizes the neurotransmitter and hormone noradrenaline , found in an area known as the Locus Coeruleus, or "blue spot" in Latin.
During REM sleep, these neurons quiet down and stop their activity. Serious conditions such as Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia -; which currently lack effective treatments -; are linked to disruptions in REM sleep. "This discovery not only advances our understanding of sleep mechanisms but also holds significant clinical potential," said Gabriella Gobbi, principal investigator of a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience .
She is a Professor of Psychiatry at McGill University, clinician-scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, and Canada Research Chair in Therapeutics for Mental Health. The science of snoozing Human sleep unfolds in a precise sequence of non-REM and REM stages, each serving distinct physiological functions. REM sleep plays a pivotal role in memory consolidation and emotional regulation.
Non-REM sleep supports physical recovery and repair processes. Disrupti.