What will we choose to learn from the Covid-19 pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID21879656
AuthorsAlice Bayingana (0000-0003-0501-9395, King's College London, corresponding author), Agnes Binagwaho (0000-0002-6779-3151, University of Global Health Equity), Kedest Mathewos (0000-0001-6525-3517, University of Global Health Equity)
Year2021
Volume6
Issue8
Pagese007005
Publication date2021-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
PublisherBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007005
PMID34385164
OpenAlexW3188262677
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited11

Light has long been known to modulate sleep, but recent discoveries support its use as an effective nocturnal stimulus for eliciting sleep in certain rodents. “Photosomnolence” is mediated by classical and ganglion cell photoreceptors and occurs despite the ongoing high levels of locomotion at the time of stimulus onset. Brief photic stimuli trigger rapid locomotor suppression, sleep, and a large drop in core body temperature (Tc; Phase 1), followed by a relatively fixed duration interval of sleep (Phase 2) and recovery (Phase 3) to pre-sleep activity levels. Additional light can lengthen Phase 2. Potential retinal pathways through which the sleep system might be light-activated are described and the potential roles of orexin (hypocretin) and melanin-concentrating hormone are discussed. The visual input route is a practical avenue to follow in pursuit of the neural circuitry and mechanisms governing sleep and arousal in small nocturnal mammals and the organizational principles may be similar in diurnal humans. Photosomnolence studies are likely to be particularly advantageous because the timing of sleep is largely under experimenter control. Sleep can now be effectively studied using uncomplicated, nonintrusive methods with behavior evaluation software tools; surgery for EEG electrode placement is avoidable. The research protocol for light-induced sleep is easily implemented and useful for assessing the effects of experimental manipulations on the sleep induction pathway. Moreover, the experimental designs and associated results benefit from a substantial amount of existing neuroanatomical and pharmacological literature that provides a solid framework guiding the conduct and interpretation of future investigations

Arousal · Circadian rhythm · Cognitive psychology · Neuropeptide · Orexin · Circadian rhythm and melatonin · Computer Science · Medicine · Neuroscience · Photoreceptor and optogenetics research · Psychology · Sleep and Wakefulness Research · Internal Medicine