Motivational Processes in the Regulation of Sleep/Wake States

Abstract Sleep is ubiquitous in the animal kingdom and is important for many functions of the organism. Nonetheless, under some circumstances, animals need to forgo sleep to engage in different motivated behaviors, including predator evasion and food seeking. The capacity to properly respond to external and internal cues with adequate arousal can have both short- and long-term consequences on the survival and fitness of animals. Which internal and external cues modulate sleep and wake states? What are the neuronal circuit elements that link motivational processes to sleep and wake regulation? In this chapter, we will start by describing circadian and homeostatic aspects of sleep/wake regulation. We will then describe motivational influences on sleep and wakefulness and present neuronal systems that may coordinate motivation processes with the regulation of sleep and wakefulness.