The circadian system that controls sleep patterns is regulated by glial brain cells called astrocytes, according to a study published in Current Biology. Neuroscientists from Tufts found that disruption of astrocyte function in fruit flies led to altered daily rhythms, an indication that these cells contribute to the control of circadian behavior. These results provide, for the first time, a tractable genetic model to study the role of astrocytes in circadian rhythms and sleep disorders.

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