The Douglas Mental Health University Institute is proud to announce that Sonia Jego, a PhD student in psychiatry, has been named an “Étudiant-chercheur étoile ” for April 2014 for her article entitled “Optogenetic identification of a rapid eye movement sleep modulatory circuit in the hypothalamus.”
This paper was originally published in Nature Neuroscience in 2013.
 

“In this study, we demonstrated that MCH regulates the release of the GABA inhibitory neurotransmitter in the posterior hypothalamus—the structure that controls awakening—to foster sleep. We also showed that MCH neurons rely on several targets in the brain to adjust REM sleep. By combining the use of modern technologies such as optogenetics, transgenic mice and sleep recordings, we were able to specifically manipulate the activity of MCH neurons according to sleep stage,” stated the Sonia Jego.

Though 3.3 million Canadians suffer from sleep disorders, this vital function remains understudied. The research highlights how crucial MCH neurons are to the consolidation of REM sleep (or dream sleep) since they inhibit the structures that control awakening. The findings are all the more important since MCH neurons impact hypocretin neurons, which play a determining role in maintaining awakening since their degeneration leads to drowsiness and is believed to cause narcolepsy. The significant advancements made by Sonia Jego elucidate the function of this activity, which takes up one third of our lives, and could lead to better treatment options for people grappling with sleep pathologies.

The goals of this award:
• Recognize the exceptional research contributions of college and university students (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate), postdoctoral fellows and members of professional bodies who are enrolled in advanced research training programs in the areas covered by the three Fonds de recherche du Québec.
• Promote research careers in Quebec.
• Develop strong ties between the Fonds de recherche du Québec and the province’s student researcher community.