Biology & Philosophy,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
39(1)
Published: Dec. 29, 2023
Abstract
Philosophers
examining
mechanistic
explanations
in
biology
have
identified
heuristic
strategies
scientists
use
discovering
mechanisms.
This
paper
examines
the
strategy
of
investigating
phylogenetically
distant
model
organisms,
using
research
on
sleep
fruit
flies
as
an
example.
At
time
was
discovered
2000
next
to
nothing
known
about
mechanisms
regulating
and
what
they
could
reveal
those
us.
One
relatively
straightforward
line
focused
homologous
genes
humans,
understand
roles
their
homologs
played
controlling
But
other
a
higher
level
organization—the
neural
networks
involved
homeostatic
circadian
control
sleep.
raises
puzzle—given
that
fly
vertebrate
brains
are
organized
very
differently,
how
regulation
serve
informative
sleep?
I
argue
basic
design
such
can
be
conserved
even
composition
mechanism
changes
researchers
hope
designs
deciphered
models
for
understanding
humans.
Oxford University Press eBooks,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. 79 - 86
Published: April 1, 2025
Abstract
This
chapter
describes
how
sleep
is
regulated
by
a
process
that
tracks
sleep–wake
history
and
circadian
process.
It
focusses
on
human
studies,
but
it
emphasized
many
principles
of
this
two-process
model
for
the
maintenance
homeostasis
also
apply
to
animals.
reviews
empirical
fundamentals,
conceptual
representation,
few
relevant
mechanistic
details
system.
explains
separate
contributions
rhythmicity
can
be
assessed
in
protocols
such
as
forced
desynchrony
constant
routine
protocol.
summarizes
timing
structure
well
brain
function
during
wakefulness
are
modulated
these
two
processes.
environmental
factors
light
social
work
schedules
influence
rhythms.
Implications
understanding
disorders
discussed.
Frontiers in Physiology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
14
Published: Jan. 19, 2023
Understanding
the
physiological
mechanisms
that
modulate
memory
acquisition
and
consolidation
remains
among
most
ambitious
questions
in
neuroscience.
Massive
efforts
have
been
dedicated
to
deciphering
how
experience
affects
behavior,
different
sensory
phenomena
memory.
Our
ability
encode,
consolidate
retrieve
memories
depends
on
internal
drives,
sleep
stands
out
processes
affect
memory:
one
of
relatable
benefits
is
aiding
occurs
order
both
prepare
brain
learn
new
information,
after
a
learning
task,
those
memories.
Drosophila
lends
itself
study
interactions
between
sleep.
The
fruit
fly
provides
incomparable
genetic
resources,
mapped
connectome,
an
existing
framework
knowledge
molecular,
cellular,
circuit
sleep,
making
remarkable
model
decipher
sophisticated
regulation
by
quantity
quality
Research
has
stablished
not
only
facilitates
wild-type
memory-impaired
animals,
but
deprivation
interferes
with
In
addition,
it
well-accepted
paramount
processes.
Finally,
studies
shown
can
promote
drive.
Nevertheless,
molecular
network
underlying
this
intertwined
relationship
are
still
evasive.
Recent
work
shed
light
neural
substrates
mediate
sleep-dependent
consolidation.
similar
way,
mechanistic
insights
switch
control
sleep-independent
strategies
were
recently
described.
This
review
will
discuss
,
focusing
recent
advances
field
pointing
awaiting
be
investigated.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: July 7, 2022
Abstract
Sleep
is
critical
for
homeostatic
processes
in
the
brain,
including
metabolism
and
waste
removal.
Here,
we
identify
brain-wide,
locally
acting
sleep
homeostats
short,
naturally
occurring
bouts
of
Drosophila
two
major
classes
glia
that
arborize
inside
astrocytes
ensheathing
glia.
We
show
surround
respiratory
tracheal
tubes,
metabolic
gas
carbon
dioxide,
changes
pH,
or
behavioral
activity,
all
induce
long
lasting
calcium
responses,
circadian
modulations.
Glia
describe
homeostasis
behaving
flies
more
faithfully
than
previously
identified
circuits
central
complex,
but
a
subset
neurons
fan-shaped
body
important
feeding
homeostasis.
Local
optogenetic
activation
sufficient
to
sleep.
Together,
levels
can
be
modeled
as
controllers
thus
establishing
link
between
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 14, 2024
Sleep
is
under
control
of
two
processes
–
circadian
and
homeo-static
regulation
but
little
known
about
how
these
integrate.
Here,
we
identify
a
Drosophila
gene,
ninna
nanna
,
encoding
alternatively
spliced
isoforms:
Ninna
Nanna.
Both
proteins
encode
aldo-keto
reductases
are
expressed
in
different,
yet
interconnected
neurons.
One
isoform,
encodes
an
reductase
with
predicted
affinity
for
NADP(H)
key
pacemaker
neurons,
the
s-LN
v
s.
The
second
NAD(H)
ICLI
pair
wake-promoting
peptidergic
neurons
whose
inhibition
relieves
sleep
pressure.
interconnect
to
integrate
binary
sensing
circuit
which
receives
information
homeostatic
defines
archetypal
integration
drive
reinforces
hypothesized
link
between
regulation.
Addiction Biology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
28(8)
Published: July 4, 2023
Abstract
Alcohol
tolerance
is
a
simple
form
of
behavioural
and
neural
plasticity
that
occurs
with
the
first
drink.
Neural
in
likely
substrate
for
longer
term
adaptations
can
lead
to
alcohol
use
disorder.
Drosophila
develop
characteristics
similar
vertebrates,
it
useful
model
determining
molecular
circuit
encoding
mechanisms
detail.
Rapid
tolerance,
measured
after
exposure
completely
metabolized,
localized
specific
brain
regions
are
not
interconnected
an
obvious
way.
We
used
forward
neuroanatomical
screen
identify
three
new
sites
rapid
encoding.
One
these
was
composed
two
groups
neurons,
DN1a
DN1p
glutamatergic
part
circadian
clock.
neurons
regulate
arousal
by
light
at
night,
temperature‐dependent
sleep
timing,
night‐time
sleep.
Two
clock
evening
activity,
LNd6
5th
LNv,
postsynaptic
DN1as,
they
promote
via
metabotropic
glutamate
receptor.
Thus,
overlaps
regulatory
circuitry,
suggesting
mechanistic
link.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Sept. 3, 2024
Abstract
Sleep
is
an
essential
and
conserved
behavior,
yet
the
mechanisms
underlying
sleep
regulation
remain
largely
unknown.
To
address
neural
of
drive,
here
we
carry
out
whole
brain
calcium-modulated
photoactivatable
ratiometric
integrator
(CaMPARI)
imaging
Drosophila
show
that
activity
protocerebral
bridge
(PB),
a
part
central
complex,
correlates
with
drive.
Through
activation
screen
followed
by
anatomical
functional
connectivity
assays,
further
narrow
down
key
player
in
PB
to
three-layer
circuit
composed
4
SpsP
neurons
their
upstream
downstream
synaptic
partners:
act
as
integrating
hub
responding
ellipsoid
body
(EB)
signals
from
EPG
neurons,
sending
back
EB
through
PEcG
neurons.
Moreover,
deprivation
enriches
presynaptic
active
zones
strengthens
connections
EPG-SpsP-PEcG
circuit,
indicating
plasticity
gating
response
drive
change.
As
also
receive
input
sensorimotor
region
given
known
role
navigation,
these
potentially
integrate
other
cues.
The
data
taken
together
indicate
four
regulatory
play
important
dynamic
regulation.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
10(47)
Published: Nov. 22, 2024
Sleep
is
essential
and
highly
conserved,
yet
its
regulatory
mechanisms
remain
largely
unknown.
To
identify
sleep
drive
neurons,
we
imaged
Drosophila
brains
with
calcium-modulated
photoactivatable
ratiometric
integrator
(CaMPARI).
The
results
indicate
that
the
activity
of
protocerebral
bridge
(PB)
correlates
drive.
We
further
identified
a
key
three-layer
PB
circuit,
EPG-SpsP-PEcG,
in
which
four
SpsP
neurons
respond
to
ellipsoid
body
(EB)
signals
from
EPG
send
back
EB
through
PEcG
neurons.
This
circuit
strengthened
by
deprivation,
indicating
plasticity
response
also
receive
inputs
sensorimotor
brain
region,
suggesting
they
may
encode
integrating
navigation
cues.
Together,
our
experiments
show
their
play
an
important
dynamic
role
regulation.