Ambient chemical and physical approaches for the modulation of sleep and wakefulness

Yi-Qun Wang; Wei-Xiang Ma; Ling-Xi Kong; Hui Zhang; Ping-Chuan Yuan; Wei-Min Qu; Chun-Feng Liu; Zhi-Li Huang

doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2024.102015

Ambient chemical and physical approaches for the modulation of sleep and wakefulness

Sleep Med Rev. 2024 Oct 12:79:102015. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2024.102015. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yi-Qun Wang¹, Wei-Xiang Ma², Ling-Xi Kong², Hui Zhang³, Ping-Chuan Yuan³, Wei-Min Qu², Chun-Feng Liu⁴, Zhi-Li Huang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. Electronic address: yiqunwang@fudan.edu.cn.
² Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
³ Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, China.
⁴ Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China. Electronic address: liuchunfeng@suda.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. Electronic address: huangzl@fudan.edu.cn.

PMID: 39447526
DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2024.102015

Abstract

Humans spend a third of their lives asleep. While the sleep-wake behaviors are primarily modulated by homeostasis and circadian rhythm, several ambient chemical and physical factors, including light, sound, odor, vibration, temperature, electromagnetic radiation, and ultrasound, also affect sleep and wakefulness. Light at different wavelengths has different effects on sleep and wakefulness. Sound not only promotes but also suppresses sleep; this effect is mediated by certain nuclei, including the pedunculopontine nucleus and inferior colliculus. Certain sleep-promoting odorants regulate sleep through the involvement of the olfactory bulb and olfactory tubercle. In addition, vibrations may induce sleep through the vestibular system. A modest increase in ambient temperature leads to an increase in sleep duration through the involvement of the preoptic area. Electromagnetic radiation has a dual effect on sleep-wake behaviors. The stimulation produced by the ambient chemical and physical factors activates the peripheral sensory system, which converts the chemical and physical stimuli into nerve impulses. This signal is then transmitted to the central nervous system, including several nuclei associated with the modulation of sleep-wake behaviors. This review summarizes the effects of ambient chemical and physical factors on the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, as well as the underlying neurobiological mechanisms.

Keywords: Electromagnetic radiation; Light; Odor; Sleep; Sound; Temperature; Ultrasound; Vibration; Wakefulness.

Publication types

Review