Cargando…

Locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: A mechanistic perspective

The defensive activation theory (DAT) was recently proposed to explain the biological function of dreaming. Briefly, DAT states that dreams are primarily visual to prevent plastic take-over of an otherwise inactive visual cortex during sleep. Evidence to support the DAT revolve around the interplay...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Knopper, Rasmus West, Hansen, Brian
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995765/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36908790
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1094812
_version_ 1784902891554734080
author Knopper, Rasmus West
Hansen, Brian
author_facet Knopper, Rasmus West
Hansen, Brian
author_sort Knopper, Rasmus West
collection PubMed
description The defensive activation theory (DAT) was recently proposed to explain the biological function of dreaming. Briefly, DAT states that dreams are primarily visual to prevent plastic take-over of an otherwise inactive visual cortex during sleep. Evidence to support the DAT revolve around the interplay between dream activity (REM%) and cortical plasticity found in evolutionary history, primate studies, and coinciding decline in human cortical plasticity and REM% with age. As the DAT may prove difficult to test experimentally, we investigate whether further support for the DAT can be found in the literature. Plasticity and REM sleep are closely linked to functions of the Locus Coeruleus (LC). We therefore review existing knowledge about the LC covering LC stability with age, and the role of the LC in the plasticity of the visual cortex. Recent studies show the LC to be more stable than previously believed and therefore, the LC likely supports the REM% and plasticity in the same manner throughout life. Based on this finding, we review the effect of aging on REM% and visual cortex plasticity. Here, we find that recent, weighty studies are not in complete agreement with the data originally provided as support for DAT. Results from these studies, however, are not in themselves irreconcilable with the DAT. Our findings therefore do not disprove the DAT. Importantly, we show that the LC is involved in all mechanisms central to the DAT. The LC may therefore provide an experimental window to further explore and test the DAT.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-9995765
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2023
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-99957652023-03-10 Locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: A mechanistic perspective Knopper, Rasmus West Hansen, Brian Front Neurosci Neuroscience The defensive activation theory (DAT) was recently proposed to explain the biological function of dreaming. Briefly, DAT states that dreams are primarily visual to prevent plastic take-over of an otherwise inactive visual cortex during sleep. Evidence to support the DAT revolve around the interplay between dream activity (REM%) and cortical plasticity found in evolutionary history, primate studies, and coinciding decline in human cortical plasticity and REM% with age. As the DAT may prove difficult to test experimentally, we investigate whether further support for the DAT can be found in the literature. Plasticity and REM sleep are closely linked to functions of the Locus Coeruleus (LC). We therefore review existing knowledge about the LC covering LC stability with age, and the role of the LC in the plasticity of the visual cortex. Recent studies show the LC to be more stable than previously believed and therefore, the LC likely supports the REM% and plasticity in the same manner throughout life. Based on this finding, we review the effect of aging on REM% and visual cortex plasticity. Here, we find that recent, weighty studies are not in complete agreement with the data originally provided as support for DAT. Results from these studies, however, are not in themselves irreconcilable with the DAT. Our findings therefore do not disprove the DAT. Importantly, we show that the LC is involved in all mechanisms central to the DAT. The LC may therefore provide an experimental window to further explore and test the DAT. Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-02-23 /pmc/articles/PMC9995765/ /pubmed/36908790 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1094812 Text en Copyright © 2023 Knopper and Hansen. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Neuroscience
Knopper, Rasmus West
Hansen, Brian
Locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: A mechanistic perspective
title Locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: A mechanistic perspective
title_full Locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: A mechanistic perspective
title_fullStr Locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: A mechanistic perspective
title_full_unstemmed Locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: A mechanistic perspective
title_short Locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: A mechanistic perspective
title_sort locus coeruleus and the defensive activation theory of rapid eye movement sleep: a mechanistic perspective
topic Neuroscience
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995765/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36908790
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1094812
work_keys_str_mv AT knopperrasmuswest locuscoeruleusandthedefensiveactivationtheoryofrapideyemovementsleepamechanisticperspective
AT hansenbrian locuscoeruleusandthedefensiveactivationtheoryofrapideyemovementsleepamechanisticperspective