The neural circuit of orexin (hypocretin): maintaining sleep and wakefulness

  • Nat Rev Neurosci. 2007 Mar;8(3):171-81. doi: 10.1038/nrn2092.
Takeshi Sakurai  1
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. [email protected]
PMID: 17299454 DOI: 10.1038/nrn2092
Abstract

Sleep and wakefulness are regulated to occur at appropriate times that are in accordance with our internal and external environments. Avoiding danger and finding food, which are life-essential activities that are regulated by emotion, reward and energy balance, require vigilance and therefore, by definition, wakefulness. The orexin (hypocretin) system regulates sleep and wakefulness through interactions with systems that regulate emotion, reward and energy homeostasis.