The brainstem plays Washing Machine Timer Motor a crucial role in sleep-wake regulation.However, the ensemble dynamics underlying sleep regulation remain poorly understood.Here, we show slow, state-predictive brainstem ensemble dynamics and state-dependent interactions between the brainstem and the hippocampus in mice.On a timescale of seconds to minutes, brainstem populations can predict pupil dilation and vigilance states and exhibit longer prediction power than hippocampal CA1 neurons.On a timescale of sub-seconds, pontine waves (P-waves) are accompanied by synchronous firing Leggings of brainstem neurons during both rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep.
Crucially, P-waves functionally interact with CA1 activity in a state-dependent manner: during NREM sleep, hippocampal sharp wave-ripples (SWRs) precede P-waves.On the other hand, P-waves during REM sleep are phase-locked with ongoing theta oscillations and are followed by burst firing of CA1 neurons.This state-dependent global coordination between the brainstem and hippocampus implicates distinct functional roles of sleep.