"Sleep and wakefulness, both of them, when immoderate constitute disease"

(Hippocrates)

Breathing provides rhythm to the brain
Albrecht Vorster | Research Fellow, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern

Breathing is the most persistent and essential bodily rhythm and exerts a strong physiological effect on the autonomous nervous system. It is also known to modulate a wide range of cognitive functions such as perception, attention, and thought structure.

Karalis & Sirota from the LMU Munich, Germany  found in vivo electrophysiological recordings in mice, from thousands of neurons across the limbic system that during our sleep breathing might help coordinate the neuronal activity between different brain areas. Breathing may provide a constant stream of rhythmic input to the brain acting as a global pacemaker of the brain. Breathing offers a persistent corollary discharge signal that enables the integration and segregation of information flow and processing across the distributed circuits by synchronizing local, internally-generated dynamics during offline states. The authors specifically found that the respiratory rhythm coordinates hippocampal dynamics as well as unit activity across the limbic system. Hippocampal ripple occurrence during quiescence and sleep in mice appeared strongly modulated by breathing. The authors speculate that that this perennial rhythm may coordinate memory consolidation dynamics during offline states. 

Karalis, N., & Sirota, A. (2022). Breathing coordinates cortico-hippocampal dynamics in mice during offline states. Nat Commun, 13(1), 467.
doi:10.1038/s41467-022-28090-5

Alexa, am I at risk for Parkinson's?
Speech analysis as early screening tool for Parkinson's disease
Albrecht Vorster | Research Fellow, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern

Analysis of speech frequency modulation, as performed by various speech recognition systems, could potentially help in the early detection of Parkinson's disease. A recent study (DOI: 10.1002/mds.28873) examined high-risk patients who had REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). RBD is one of the earliest and most reliable markers for the development of alpha-synucleinopathy, the disease group to which Parkinson's disease belongs. Within 15 years, the conversion rate is over 95%. In the present study, 30 subjects with RBD and olfactory disorders, 17 with RBD without olfactory disorders, and 50 healthy controls underwent speech tests. It was found that intonation, speech rate, rhythm, and pauses in speech were significantly impaired (Dysprosody) in the high-risk group (RBD with olfactory disorders) compared with the other two groups.
Prosody can be easily and quickly measured via computer or online analysis. In the future a speech test might provide a reliable and cost-effective tool for early diagnosis, which would pave the way for presymptomatic PD therapy.

 
Rusz, J., Janzen, A., Tykalova, T., Novotny, M., Zogala, D., Timmermann, L., . . . Oertel, W. (2021). Dysprosody in Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder with Impaired Olfaction but Intact Nigrostriatal Pathway. Movement Disorders, n/a(n/a).

doi:10.1002/mds.28873

Science

Kleine-Levin Syndrome

Dr. Samson Khachatryan MD PhD
President, Armenian Sleep Disorders Association
Chirman, Dept of Neurology and Neurosurgery National Institute of health,
Center for Sleep Disorders, Somnus Neurology Clinic, Yerevan, Armenia

In memory of Prof. Ivan N. Pigarev

The visceral theory of sleep

Dr. Alexandr L. Kalinkin, Head of sleep medicine center - Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

Events

4^th Sleep Science Winter School
Virtual Meeting | 3^rd-4^th March 2022

We are pleased to announce the 4th Sleep Science Winter School for March 3-4, 2022, virtual edition.
Our preliminary inspiring program includes 3 topical keynote lectures given by international experts in the fields of the orexin system and narcolepsy, consciousness and coma, and the neuroscience of hypnosis.
Four scientific sessions provide newest insight into the key topics of sleep mechanisms and functions, awareness and consciousness, and translational sleep science. A new concept of intensive, short lectures and immediate interaction will be implemented and shall intensify learning and exchange.

Last chance to Register!
Deadline for online registration

2^nd March 2022

World Sleep Congress 2022
Rome |  11^rd-16^th March 2022

World Sleep 2022 is a global scientific congress bringing the best of sleep medicine and research to Rome, Italy, March 11–16, 2022. The World Sleep congress, now in its 16th iteration, consistently gathers the best minds in sleep medicine and research for multiple days of scientific sessions and networking. As a truly global meeting—77 countries were represented at World Sleep 2019—World Sleep presents a unique opportunity for sleep medicine professionals no matter their specialty or career stage.

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