Sleep-active cells in the cerebral cortex and their role in slow-wave activity

Abstract

We recently identified neurons in the cerebral cortex that become activated during sleep episodes with high slow-wave activity (SWA). The distinctive properties of these neurons are the ability to produce nitric oxide and their long-range projections within the cortex. In this review, we discuss how these characteristics of sleep-active cells could be relevant to SWA production in the cortex. We also discuss possible models of the role of nNOS cells in SWA production. © 2011 The Authors. Sleep and Biological Rhythms © 2011 Japanese Society of Sleep Research.