Pons' Role In Rem Sleep: Brainstem's Power Nap Partner

The pons is a small region in the brainstem that is critical for REM sleep generation. The pons is located in the caudal midbrain and is involved in the suppression of muscle tone during REM sleep. The pons contains a complex variety of cells that differ in their neurotransmitters, receptors and axonal projections. The pons is also involved in the generation of the core elements of REM sleep, such as the suppression of muscle tone and the generation of rapid eye movements.

The pons is the crucial region for the generation of REM sleep

The pons is a crucial region for the generation of REM sleep. The pons is a small area in the brainstem, located above the medulla and below the midbrain. It is involved in many important functions, including the generation of REM sleep.

REM sleep is one of the two main types of sleep, the other being non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. During REM sleep, people tend to have vivid dreams. The pons is the key brain structure for generating REM sleep. It contains cells that are maximally active during REM sleep, called REM-on cells, and cells that are minimally active during REM sleep, called REM-off cells.

The pons is sufficient to generate the core elements of REM sleep. Transection studies, in which the brainstem is cut to separate the brain into two parts, have shown that when the pons is connected to the forebrain, forebrain aspects of REM sleep are seen, but the forebrain without the pons does not generate these aspects of REM sleep.

The pons contains a complex variety of cells that differ in their neurotransmitters, receptors and axonal projections. Neurons in the pons that are maximally active during REM sleep are distributed throughout the lateral pontine region. These neurons project to acetylcholine-responsive regions in the subcoeruleus area, which is critical for generating REM sleep.

The pons also contains a population of non-cholinergic neurons that are active during REM sleep. These neurons have projections to the dorsal tegmental nucleus and the nucleus incertus, which are thought to be important relays in the septohippocampal pathway that controls the theta rhythm during REM sleep.

The pons is also involved in the suppression of muscle tone during REM sleep. Stimulation of the pons can trigger REM sleep and the suppression of muscle tone.

The pons is sufficient to generate the pontine signs of REM sleep

The pons is a small region in the brainstem that is necessary for the generation of REM sleep. Transection studies have determined that the pons is sufficient to generate much of the phenomenology of REM sleep. Lesion studies have identified a small region in the lateral pontine tegmentum corresponding to lateral portions of the RPO and the region immediately ventral to the locus coeruleus, which is required for REM sleep. The REM sleep-on cells of the lateral pontine reticular formation and medial medullary reticular formation are distributed throughout the lateral pontine region implicated by lesion studies in REM sleep control.

The pons is also involved in the suppression of muscle tone during REM sleep. The pontine inhibitory area, located in the subcoeruleus region, produces muscle tone suppression. Even though the pontine inhibitory area is within a few millimeters of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus, electrical stimulation in the pontine inhibitory area that suppresses muscle tone will always cause a cessation of activity in the locus coeruleus and other facilitatory cell groups.

The pons is not sufficient to generate all the phenomena of REM sleep

The pons is a small region in the brainstem that is necessary for REM sleep. Transection studies have determined that the pons is sufficient to generate much of the phenomenology of REM sleep. However, the pons alone does not generate all the phenomena of REM sleep. The medulla and spinal cord, disconnected from rostral structures, show spontaneous variations in levels of arousal and NREM sleep-like states but do not show the medullary signs of REM sleep.

The pons contains a complex variety of cells differing in their neurotransmitter, receptors and axonal projections. Unit recording techniques allow an analysis of the interplay between these cell groups and their targets to further refine our identification of REM sleep mechanisms.

The pontine REM sleep-on cells are distributed throughout the lateral pontine region implicated by lesion studies in REM sleep control. This distribution is significant, since it indicates that the critical lesion does not merely interrupt fibres of passage in the critical area, but also removes the somas of cells that are selectively active in REM sleep.

The REM sleep-on cells in this lateral region are not cholinergic. Aminergic neurons are also not present in this region. Thus, the transmitter employed by these cells remains unknown. The medullary REM sleep-on cells are located in an area receiving projections from the pontine REM sleep-on region.

The pontine atonia region can be activated by glutamate as well as carbachol. Non-NMDA receptors mediate the glutamate effect, whereas muscarinic M2 receptors mediate the cholinergic effect.

The REM sleep-off cells include noradrenergic cells of the locus coeruleus, serotonergic cells of the raphe system, and histaminergic cells of the posterior hypothalamus. These cell groups are not critical for REM sleep generation, but it is likely that they modulate the expression of REM sleep. The cessation of discharge in monoaminergic cells during REM sleep appears to be caused by the release of GABA onto these cells, presumably by REM sleep-active GABAergic brainstem neurons.

The medulla and spinal cord together, disconnected from the pons, are not sufficient to generate this aspect of REM sleep

The pons is the crucial region for the generation of REM sleep. The medulla and spinal cord together, disconnected from the pons, are not sufficient to generate this aspect of REM sleep. When the pons is connected to the medulla and spinal cord, as in the midbrain decerebrate animal, most of the defining signs of REM sleep are seen in these caudal structures. However, the medulla and spinal cord together, disconnected from the pons, are not sufficient to generate this aspect of REM sleep. When the pons is connected to the forebrain, forebrain aspects of REM sleep are seen, but the forebrain without attached pons does not generate these aspects of REM sleep.

The pons contains a complex variety of cells differing in their neurotransmitter, receptors and axonal projections

The pons is a part of the brainstem, which connects the brain to the spinal cord. It is responsible for several unconscious processes, such as the sleep-wake cycle and breathing. The pons also contains several junction points for nerves that control muscles and carry information from the senses in the head and face.

The pons is made up of a variety of cells, including neurons and glial cells. Neurons are cells that transmit and relay signals, while glial cells are support cells that help the neurons function. The pons contains several types of neurotransmitters, including glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, serotonin, histamine, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters facilitate brain function, particularly sleep.

The pons also contains four of the 12 cranial nerves, which are nerves with direct connections to the brain: the trigeminal nerve, the abducens nerve, the facial nerve, and the vestibulocochlear nerve. These nerves are vital, as they help with several senses and control the movement of the face and mouth.

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