Basal Forebrain

The basal forebrain (BF) is a collection of structures anterior and ventral to striatum. It contains the nucleus accumbens, nucleus basalis, diagonal band of Broca, substantia innominata, and the medial septal nuclei. Generally, these structures are the main source of Acetylcholine for the brain, which they project widely throughout.

Function

 * chemogenetically activating cholinergic neurons in the BF greatly reduced slow wave frequency power during slow wave sleep without influencing total time awake.
 * chemogenetic activation of glutamatergic neurons in BF didn't greatly change sleep structure.
 * chemogenetic activation of GABAergic neurons in BF greatly reduced sleep and increased wakefulness. It also shifted the power spectrum during wakefulness and slow wave sleep.