Ph.D. University of Toronto 2001

Neurobiology Physiology Systems Biology

Our research aims to understand how the brain generates and regulates behavioral arousal states. My research team uses optogenetic and pharmacogenetic methods to dissect the brain circuitry controlling behavioral arousal state, particularly sleep. This work will not only identify the pathways that trigger sleep and wakefulness, it will also be invaluable in understanding how breakdown in brain circuits contributes to sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder.

Monoamine Release during Unihemispheric Sleep and Unihemispheric Waking in the Fur Seal.Lyamin OI, Lapierre JL, Kosenko PO, Kodama T, Bhagwandin A, Korneva SM, Peever JH, Mukhametov LM, Siegel JM.Sleep 2016;39(3):625-36 pubmed Cataplexy-clinical aspects, pathophysiology and management strategy.Dauvilliers Y, Siegel JM, Lopez R, Torontali ZA, Peever JH.Nat Rev Neurol 2014 Jul;10(7):386-95 pubmed Noradrenergic modulation of masseter muscle activity during natural rapid eye movement sleep requires glutamatergic signalling at the trigeminal motor nucleus.Schwarz PB, Mir S, Peever JH.J. Physiol. (Lond.) 2014 May; pubmed Cholinergic involvement in control of REM sleep paralysis.Torontali ZA, Grace KP, Horner RL, Peever JH.J. Physiol. (Lond.) 2014 Apr;592(Pt 7):1425-6 pubmed Melanin-concentrating hormone neurons promote and stabilize sleep.Fraigne JJ, Peever JH.Sleep 2013 Dec;36(12):1767-8 pubmed Brain biology: jerked around by sleep.Fraigne JJ, Peever JH.Curr. Biol. 2013 Nov;23(21):R954-6 pubmed A noradrenergic mechanism functions to couple motor behavior with arousal state.Burgess CR, Peever JH.Curr. Biol. 2013 Sep;23(18):1719-25 pubmed Amygdala lesions reduce cataplexy in orexin knock-out mice.Burgess CR, Oishi Y, Mochizuki T, Peever JH, Scammell TE.J. Neurosci. 2013 Jun;33(23):9734-42 pubmed Symmetrical serotonin release during asymmetrical slow-wave sleep: implications for the neurochemistry of sleep-waking states.Lapierre JL, Kosenko PO, Kodama T, Peever JH, Mukhametov LM, Lyamin OI, Siegel JM.J. Neurosci. 2013 Feb;33(6):2555-61 pubmed Identification of the transmitter and receptor mechanisms responsible for REM sleep paralysis.Brooks PL, Peever JH.J. Neurosci. 2012 Jul;32(29):9785-95 pubmed Mania-like behavior induced by genetic dysfunction of the neuron-specific Na+,K+-ATPase α3 sodium pump.Kirshenbaum GS, Clapcote SJ, Duffy S, Burgess CR, Petersen J, Jarowek KJ, Yücel YH, Cortez MA, Snead OC, Vilsen B, Peever JH, Ralph MR, Roder JC.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2011 Nov;108(44):18144-9 pubmed Dopamine triggers skeletal muscle tone by activating D1-like receptors on somatic motoneurons.Schwarz PB, Peever JH.J. Neurophysiol. 2011 Sep;106(3):1299-309 pubmed