REM sleep and depression: common neurobiological control mechanisms
Author: McCarley, R.W. Description: The author summarizes clinical data showing parallels between REM sleep and depressive phenomena; e.g., patients with endogenous depression show a first REM period that has a shorter than normal latency and a higher density of eye movement. The author discusses evidence for his hypothesis that the following commonalities in neurobiological control systems generate these parallels: 1) brainstem norepinephrine and serotonin systems suppress both REM sleep and depressive phenomena, 2) acetylcholine systems promote both REM and depressive phenomena, and 3) in control of depressive phenomena, as acetylcholine…
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