Researchers Discover Mechanism That Drives Going To Sleep And Waking Up

The Brain





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An increase in sodium channel activity in the circadian neurons makes the brain wake up. Milles Studio/Shutterstock

We know that a tiny region in the hypothalamus of the brain is responsible for regulating one's "biological clock" through both neuronal and hormonal activity. The genetic basis for the circadian rhythm – roughly 24-hour cycles of physiological processes – has been well studied across a range of species, from bacteria to animals, but until now the mechanism determining the timing of sleep-wake cycles remained unknown.