Molecular mechanism of sleep-wake regulation: From basic to translational research

Abstract

Sleep gives our body its needed rest, which prepares us for the next day's activities. In our modern society, people suffer from sleep deprivation, which leads to an inability to concentrate, to a loss of judgment, and to an increased risk of accidents. It is reported that 1 in 4-5 Japanese has a sleep problem and that 1 in 9 Japanese uses sleeping pills regularly. Hypnotic drugs are prescribed for insomnia patients. The current sleeping pills developed from tranquilizers are much safer than the ones used in the past, as the latter were developed from anesthetic agents, which brought death in case too many pills were taken. However, the current type of sleeping pills causes a coma in case of an overdose. Such pills are sometimes used in crimes such as coma robbery cases.