Sleep as a fundamental property of neuronal assemblies

Abstract
Sleep is a fundamental property of neuronal assemblies such as cortical columns. Sleep is regulated in a neuronal-assembly use-dependent manner. The mechanisms that underlie neuronal-assembly sleep include enhanced activity of sleep-regulatory substances, induced by neuronal use-enhanced metabolism. A mathematical model of loosely connected neuronal assemblies shows that they synchronize their sleep-like and awake-like states. Sleep probably evolved from a metabolically quiescent rest state. Sleep seems to function to stabilize instinctual and learned memories.