ATLAS ANATOMY

SCIENTISTS are still discovering new body parts. this week: the sleep node SCIENTISTS have found a cluster of cells in the brain that appear to act as a sleep switch.

Though invisible to the naked eye, the concentrated circuit of cells releases a chemical, called GABA, which triggers sleep.

The discovery was made by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School.

They injected a modified virus into mice brains that instantly triggered the GABA-producing brain cells and the mice fell into a deep sleep immediately.

Patrick Fuller, who led the research team, said the cells had been found in the brainstem, which is at the base of the brain and acts as a control centre for vital body functions.

Sleep expert Dr Neil Stanley says the discovery could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of insomnia.

‘It’s not yet clear how these neurons interact with other sleep and wake centres in the brain, but it could be used to help improve sleep-related conditions,’ he says.