Research
Sleep is the only primary behavior for which the function remains unknown
Sleep can be defined at behavioral and large neural network levels (e.g. EEG), but what is cellular definition of sleep or sleep drive? Can we tell whether a neuron or a glia cell is sleeping or sleepy? Do different neurons or circuits sleep differently?
We aim to address these questions and controversy using Drosophila as our model system.
It is widely accepted that sleep is important for synaptic function and plasticity. However, the exact role of sleep on synapses is still controversial. One idea is that sleep further strengths the synaptic connections potentiated by recent learning. A competing hypothesis proposes that sleep promotes broad synaptic weakening.
Our aim is to address these questions by
- defining sleep at the circuit, cellular, and molecular levels
- examining what sleep does to individual synapses and cells
Since sleep deficits are observed in many neurological diseases, more insight into the fundamental mechanisms underlying sleep can also advance our understanding of pathological mechanisms of neurological diseases.