Summary: A study identified the claustrum’s role in controlling sleep and alertness. The research showed that active claustrum neurons reduce responsiveness during sleep and define sensory engagement during tasks. This discovery offers new insights into attention and impulse control, with potential implications for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Key Takeaways:
- Claustrum Function: The claustrum regulates engagement and responsiveness, from deep sleep to alert states.
- Neuronal Activity: Increased claustrum neuron activity reduces sensory responsiveness and impulsivity; decreased activity leads to hyper-engagement and errors.
- Clinical Implications: Findings could lead to new treatments for disorders like ADHD, OCD, and sleep disturbances.
A new study at Hebrew University identified the function of a specific region in the brain in controlling our level of alertness, from states of deep sleep to states of vigilant and highly responsivity.
They showed that when certain neurons found in a brain region called the claustrum are more active, we become less responsive to our surroundings during sleep. Activity of these same neurons also defines the level of our engagement with sensory information when we perform tasks.
Researchers say this study, published in Nature Communications, provides a fresh understanding of how attention works in the brain and could lead to new ways to treat various brain-related disorders.
Claustrum’s Role in Engagement and Alertness
The new study, led by professor Ami Citri, PhD; Gal Atlan, PhD; and a team from The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences at the Hebrew University, in collaboration with the research group led by professor Yuval Nir, PhD, at Tel Aviv University, uncovered the pivotal role of a brain structure called the claustrum in regulating engagement, from deep sleep to waking behavior.
The findings shed new light on how our brains control responsiveness to sensory stimuli, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of attention, impulse control, and even sleep disorders.
The researchers recorded the activity of neurons in the claustrum of mice during an attention-demanding task. They discovered that increased activity in these neurons reduces sensory responsiveness and reduces impulsivity. Performing similar experiments during sleep also identified a role for claustrum neurons in supporting uninterrupted sleep.
Conversely, lower activity of claustrum neurons was linked to hyper-engagement and impulsive errors. In fact, by enhancing the activity of these neurons, the researchers could reduce both impulsive errors when mice perform a task, as well as the probability that mice will awake in response to sensory stimulation. These results highlight the claustrum’s regulatory function during different arousal states.
Research Findings and Methods
“Our study provides compelling evidence that claustrum neurons act as gatekeepers of engagement, regulating how likely perception is to drive action,” says lead researcher Citri in a release. “Understanding these mechanisms could offer new insights into a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders characterized by impaired impulse control such as ADHD, OCD, drug addiction, schizophrenia, and other disorders.”
Citri adds in a release, “This study enhances our understanding of the claustrum’s function in brain processes and opens potential pathways for addressing issues related to attention disorders and sleep disturbances. It provides valuable insight into how specific neural pathways influence behavioral states, advancing our knowledge of the complex interactions between sleep and alertness, and could lead to targeted therapeutic interventions.”
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