Brainstem Circuit Links Breathing to Sleep Arousal, Explains SIDS Risk

Source: science.org

Scientists identified a specific neural circuit in the brainstem of mice that links breathing to arousal from sleep. When breathing falters, this circuit triggers both corrective breaths and wakefulness to prevent oxygen deprivation. The discovery, led by researchers at Case Western Reserve University, provides a biological explanation for SIDS, where infants fail to wake from dangerous breathing pauses, and highlights potential targets for therapies.