Astrocytic Sleep Homeostasis Model

Abstract

Sleep awake cycle is critical for cognitive and functional abilities. Conventional sleep homeostasis mechanisms are neuronal in nature and recent views indicate glial regulation of the sleep-wake process. Mechanisms of homeostatic regulation of sleep remain to be understood. A simplified astrocytic sleep-awake homeostasis mathematical model with sleep pressure and synaptic strength dynamics is proposed using feedback control loops. The model provides insights into the emergence of two discrete states through sleep and awake promoting neuronal populations giving rise to a homeostatic process S and oscillatory process C is regulated by astrocytic sleep pressure. It also explains the variations seen in synaptic strength dynamics during sleep and awake states.