Need for sleep
Sleep is crucial for healthy living and well-being. Sleep need varies greatly among people; however, little is known about the processes regulating sleep duration, continuity, and depth. Here, Xing et al. performed whole exome sequencing in a family of short sleepers and identified a point mutation in the neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1) gene responsible for the short sleep phenotype. The mutation increased receptor sensitivity to the endogenous ligand. Mice carrying the mutation showed increase mobility time and reduced sleep duration. Moreover, the animals were resistant to cognitive impairment induced by sleep deprivation. The results suggest that NPSR1 might play a major role in sleep-related memory consolidation.
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