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Research progress of sleep-wake neural circuit mediated by hypothalamus

LONG Bin-Hao, DOU Ting-Ting, MA Cui, WEI Yu-Ting, MA Si-Rui, YAN Xing-Ke^*

Acumox and Tuina College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730101, China

Abstract

The hypothalamus is a critical central hub for regulating sleep-wake patterns in organisms, maintaining the balance between daily activity and rest by modulating sleep-wake-related neural circuits. This article reviews research on hypothalamus-mediated neural circuits involved in sleep-wake regulation. Studies demonstrate that activating specific neuronal subtypes in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH), supramammillary nucleus (SuM), preoptic area (POA) and its subregions, and dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) can induce sleep or wakefulness through distinct circuit mechanisms. At the same time, the limitations of the traditional sleep-wake flip-flop model are discussed, along with the supplements and hypotheses. Multiple hypothalamic nuclei form extensive connections with other brain regions, collectively establishing a sophisticated neural architecture that drives wakefulness and stabilizes sleep. This finely tuned regulatory system enables precise control of sleep-wake states, offering foundational insights into the neural mechanisms of sleep-wake transitions and informing potential therapeutic strategies for sleep disorders.

Key words: Hypothalamus; sleep-wake; neural circuits

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 严兴科　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2026.0023

Citing This Article：

LONG Bin-Hao, DOU Ting-Ting, MA Cui, WEI Yu-Ting, MA Si-Rui, YAN Xing-Ke. Research progress of sleep-wake neural circuit mediated by hypothalamus. Acta Physiol Sin 2026; 78 (2): 283-294 (in Chinese with English abstract).