The Neurotransmitters of Sleep
Jerome M. Siegel, Ph.D.
Forgot your login? GET HELP
The part of the brain most important in regulating sleep duration is the hypothalamus. Certain
groups of hypothalamic neurons and adjacent groups of basal forebrain neurons produce the neurotransmitter
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Projections of these GABA neurons inhibit the firing of
cells involved in wakefulness. Several groups of neurons have been shown to be inhibited by this
action—including neurons containing histamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, hypocretin, and glutamate—and this inhibition promotes sleep. Hypocretin (also called orexin) was discovered in 1998,
and its role in sleep and narcolepsy was identified in 2001. Other as-yet undiscovered transmitters are
undoubtedly involved in sleep control. The transmitters discussed in this article have been the most
thoroughly studied, and many aspects of the role of each of these transmitters in relation to sleep are
reasonably well understood.
J Clin Psychiatry 2004;65(suppl 16):4-7
© Copyright 2004 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
Manage Subscriptions
/_layouts/images/ReportServer/Manage_Subscription.gif
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/ManageSubscriptions.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x80
0x0
FileType
rdl
350
Manage Data Sources
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/DataSourceList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x20
FileType
rdl
351
Manage Shared Datasets
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/DatasetList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x20
FileType
rdl
352
Manage Parameters
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/ParameterList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rdl
353
Manage Processing Options
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/ReportExecution.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rdl
354
Manage Cache Refresh Plans
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/CacheRefreshPlanList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rdl
355
View Report History
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/ReportHistory.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x40
FileType
rdl
356
View Dependent Items
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/DependentItems.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rsds
350
Edit Data Source Definition
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/SharedDataSource.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rsds
351
View Dependent Items
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/DependentItems.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
smdl
350
Manage Clickthrough Reports
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/ModelClickThrough.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
smdl
352
Manage Model Item Security
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/ModelItemSecurity.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x2000000
FileType
smdl
353
Regenerate Model
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/GenerateModel.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
smdl
354
Manage Data Sources
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/DataSourceList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x20
FileType
smdl
351
Load in Report Builder
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/RSAction.aspx?RSAction=ReportBuilderModelContext&list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x2
FileType
smdl
250
Edit in Report Builder
/_layouts/images/ReportServer/EditReport.gif
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/RSAction.aspx?RSAction=ReportBuilderReportContext&list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rdl
250
Edit in Report Builder
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/RSAction.aspx?RSAction=ReportBuilderDatasetContext&list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rsd
250
Manage Caching Options
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/DatasetCachingOptions.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rsd
350
Manage Cache Refresh Plans
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/CacheRefreshPlanList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}&IsDataset=true
0x0
0x4
FileType
rsd
351
Manage Data Sources
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/DataSourceList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x20
FileType
rsd
352
View Dependent Items
/PCC/article/_layouts/ReportServer/DependentItems.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId}
0x0
0x4
FileType
rsd
353
Compliance Details
javascript:commonShowModalDialog('{SiteUrl}/_layouts/itemexpiration.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}', 'center:1;dialogHeight:500px;dialogWidth:500px;resizable:yes;status:no;location:no;menubar:no;help:no', function GotoPageAfterClose(pageid){if(pageid == 'hold') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/hold.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'audit') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/Reporting.aspx?Category=Auditing&backtype=item&ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'config') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+'/_layouts/expirationconfig.aspx?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;}}, null); return false;
0x0
0x1
ContentType
0x01
898
Document Set Version History
javascript:SP.UI.ModalDialog.ShowPopupDialog('{SiteUrl}/_layouts/DocSetVersions.aspx?List={ListId}&ID={ItemId}')
0x0
0x0
ContentType
0x0120D520
330
Send To other location
javascript:GoToPage('{SiteUrl}/_layouts/docsetsend.aspx?List={ListId}&ID={ItemId}')
0x0
0x0
ContentType
0x0120D520
350