[Sleep regulatory mechanisms].

ABSTRACT

The fact that resting wakefulness does not satisfy the need for sleep suggests that sleep has a critical role for the brain, probably for its maintenance or repair. Neuronal oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, or energy insufficiency in the brain is now considered to be a trigger or cause for sleep induction. And the timing for sleep is controlled by circadian clock which also exists in the brain. Sleep is occurred in the brain, which is regulated by the brain itself. "Why do we sleep ?" Although everyone wants to know the answer for this issue, scientists should still question that "How do we sleep"?