Autonomic dysfunction in sleep disorders: introduction to the series

Excerpt

Sleep is a fascinating and enigmatic phenomenon occurring, with varying patterns, in virtually all known animal species. This issue of Clinical Autonomic Research features a series of manuscripts authored by renowned experts in the field which focus on the connections between the autonomic nervous system and sleep. Although sleep is not traditionally considered a function regulated by the autonomic nervous system, it is evident that there are overlapping areas in the central nervous system (CNS) that regulate both systems, resulting in interesting and relevant interactions that can potentially impact morbidity and mortality. These interactions are concisely summarized in the review by Fink and colleagues [6], which highlights how specific CNS nuclei play a critical role in regulating cardiovascular autonomic function during both rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep. …