Lukas T. Oesch^{a, b}, Antoine R. Adamantidis^{a, b}

^a Zentrum für Experimentelle Neurologie, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 
^b Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

© 2021 The Author(s)
Published by S. Karger AG, Basel

• Chapter 7 graphical abstract

During the last decade, optogenetic-based circuit mapping has become one of the most common approaches to systems neuroscience, and amassing studies have expanded our understanding of brain structures causally involved in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. Recent imaging technologies enable the functional mapping of cellular activity, from population down to single-cell resolution, across a broad repertoire of behaviors and physiological processes, including sleep-wake states. This chapter summarizes experimental evidence implicating hypocretins/orexins, melanin-concentrating hormone, and inhibitory neurons from the lateral hypothalamus (LH) in forming an intricate network involved in regulating sleep and metabolism, including feeding behaviors. It further confirms the dual sleep-metabolic functions of LH cells, and sheds light on a possible mechanism underlying brain plasticity during sleep and metabolic disorders.

• LH^HCRT/OX and LH^MCH have opposite functions on sleep-wake control and metabolism.
• Other local excitatory and inhibitory neurons are active during both food intake and REM sleep.
• REM reactivation of food-active LH inhibitory neurons is essential to maintain food intake.

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