The Neurobiological Basis of Sleep: Insights from Drosophila

Publication date: Available online 31 January 2018 Source:Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews Author(s): Sarah Ly, Allan I. Pack, Nirinjini Naidoo Sleep is a biological enigma that has raised numerous questions about the inner workings of the brain. The fundamental question of why our nervous systems have evolved to require sleep remains a topic of ongoing scientific deliberation. This question is largely being addressed by research using animal models of sleep. Drosophila melanogaster, also known as the common fruit fly, exhibits a sleep state that shares common features with many other species. Drosophila sleep studies have unearthed an immense wealth of knowledge about the neuroscience of sleep. Given the breadth of findings published on Drosophila sleep, it is important to consider how all of this information might come together to generate a more holistic understanding of sleep. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the neurobiology of Drosophila sleep and explores the broader insights and implications of how sleep is regulated across species and why it is necessary for the brain.
Source: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research