Researchers have found that gene expressions in specific parts of the brain could be the trigger for sleep deprivation among people, a study said.

The study published in the Frontiers in Neuroscience is from researchers from the Allen Institute for Brain Science and SRI International. The effect of lack of sleep on the functioning of the brain was catalogued in the research to further comprehend and manage its adverse effects.

"Although most people experience occasional sleep deprivation and recognize its impact on their mood and behavior, there is little scientific understanding of how sleep loss actually affects brain function," said Thomas Kilduff, Ph.D., senior director of the Center for Neuroscience at SRI International. "This pioneering study documents how extending wakefulness affects gene expression in specific brain regions and describes a 'molecular anatomical signature' of sleep deprivation. Our findings may contribute to treatments that will help improve sleep quality and reduce problems arising from sleep deprivation."

The researchers have formatted a wide-spread map of gene activity, better known as gene expression. The study was conducted on mouse models. The experiment focused on all five conditions pertaining to behavior and also included sleep deprivation, waking and sleeping. Nearly 220 genes of the brain which respond to the conditions were examined by the team in detail including the cellular levels. Seven brain areas in were examined by the researchers with DNA microarray analysis. The analysis reports back the levels of thousands of genes. It also allows the consequences of sleep deprivation through a genome-wide analysis.

"These data illustrate the complex and dynamic relationship between sleep and sleep deprivation, neuroanatomical pathways and gene expression," said Ed Lein, Ph.D., senior director of neuroscience at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and senior author of the study. "The breadth and level of detail provided by these data will be a unique resource for the scientific community, and to that end we have made the data set publicly available online in its entirety."

This open data will help in creating effective medication for individuals suffering from sleep disorder and a clear understanding of the functioning of the brain for sleep researchers.