Basal forebrain

Basal forebrain
The Basal Forebrain
Details
Identifiers
Latin	pars basalis telencephali
NeuroNames	ancil-1997
NeuroLex ID	Basal Forebrain
TA	A14.1.09.401
FMA	77700
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy []

The basal forebrain structures are located to the front of and below the striatum. They include the nucleus accumbens, nucleus basalis, diagonal band of Broca, substantia innominata, and the medial septal nucleus. These structures are important in the production of acetylcholine, which is then distributed widely throughout the brain. The basal forebrain is considered to be the major cholinergic output of the central nervous system (CNS).

Acetylcholine is known to promote wakefulness in the basal forebrain. Stimulating the basal forebrain gives rise to acetylcholine release, which induces wakefulness and REM sleep, whereas inhibition of acetylcholine release in the basal forebrain by adenosine causes slow wave sleep.

Adenosine acts on A1 receptors of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain. This results in hyperpolarization of cholinergic neurons, which inhibits the release of acetylcholine.

The basal forebrain and adjacent areas are a focus for sleep research. Research, conducted by investigators from Children's Hospital Boston and the University of Helsinki, ties together previous observations about sleep and finds that nitric oxide production in the basal forebrain is both necessary and sufficient to produce sleep.