Review articleThe control of sleep and wakefulness by mesolimbic dopamine systems

•Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area consolidate wakefulness.•Role of the nucleus accumbens in regulating slow-wave sleep is discussed.•Neuronal systems that affect the mesolimbic control of sleep and wake are discussed.

The mesolimbic dopamine pathway between the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a central role in motivational behaviors. Recent findings indicate that the VTA and NAc are also involved in sleep/wake regulation - the topic of this review. First, we present an overview of the growing evidence from rodent studies revealing a wake-regulatory role of VTA dopamine neurons. We also discuss brain areas and their neurotransmitters or neuromodulators that may regulate the activity of wake-promoting VTA dopamine neurons. This is followed by a summary of current knowledge of the role of the NAc in regulating slow-wave sleep and a discussion of where and how this control of sleep physiology might be regulated by upstream neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, including dopamine and the classic somnogen adenosine.