Brain arousal/activity

These data thus confirm our initial hypothesis that mGlu2/3 receptors are tonically active in lowering the level of brain arousal. Thus, antagonizing these receptors increases arousal as evidenced by the increase in waking and the stimulation of high-frequency EEG power. The striking increase in theta power was unexpected but is also consistent with increased arousal. 

The primary catabolic pathway for 5-HT is oxidative deamination by the enzyme monoamine oxidase 237 In addition to classical synaptic transmission, 5-HT may relay information by volume transmission or paracrine neurotransmission 238 5 -HT may be involved in a wide variety of behaviors by setting the tone of brain activity in relationship to the state of behavioral arousal/activity 238... 

A medication that causes induction of sleep. The majority of currently available hypnotics (for example benzodiazepine receptor agonists) act via potentiating the brain s inhibitory GABAergic systems, in turn reducing the activity of arousal (i.e. wake promoting) neurotransmitter systems. 

Trulson, M. E. Jacobs, B. L. (1979). Raphe unit activity in freely moving cats correlation with level of behavioral arousal. Brain Res. 163, 135-50. 

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a recently discovered bioactive peptide that has emerged as a new signaling molecule in the complex circuitry that modulates sleep-wakefulness and anxiety-like behavior. The peptide precursor is expressed most prominently in a novel nucleus located in the perilocus coeruleus, a brain structure with well-defined functions in arousal, stress, and anxiety. NPS was also found to induce anxiolytic-like behavior in a battery of four different tests of innate responses to stress. Infusion of NPS potently increases wakefulness and suppresses non-REM (NREM) and REM sleep (Xu et al, 2004). NPS binds to a G-protein-coupled receptor, the NPS receptor, with nanomolar affinity activation of the receptor mobilizes intracellular calcium. The NPS receptor is expressed throughout the brain, particularly in regions relevant to the modulation of sleep and waking, in the tuberomammillary region, lateral hypothalamus, and medial thalamic nuclei. 

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