Changes in Gene Expression

The examination of gene expression across different arousal states has been a fruitful approach to improve one's understanding of sleep regulation, sleep functions, and potentially sleep pathologies. Most of this work has taken place in model organisms such as mice, rats, and fruit flies. The advent of genomic methodologies, such as microarrays and improved bioinformatics, has allowed researchers to assess thousands of transcripts simultaneously and begin to suggest important pathways relevant to sleep. Targeted approaches toward specific genes have also shed light on critical pathways. Ultimately, this knowledge, combined with other approaches, may help to finally answer some of the mysteries of sleep.