About the speaker
Peter Meerlo studied biology at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and earned his PhD degree in 1997 with research performed in the lab of Serge Daan, assessing the impact of stress on circadian rhythms. He then worked as a postdoctoral fellow and research associate in the group of Fred Turek at Northwestern University in Chicago, extending his research on stress, circadian rhythms and sleep. In 2001 he returned to the Netherlands where he is now an associate professor at the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences.
The main topics of his research are:
- comparative studies on the regulation and function of sleep across species;
- the role of sleep in neuronal plasticity, brain function and memory formation; and
- the neurobiological and neuroendocrine consequences of chronically disrupted or restricted sleep, with special emphasis on systems that are involved in stress and have been implicated in mood disorders and cognitive disturbances.
Abstract
Although sleep appears universal across species, much of our knowledge on the regulation and function of sleep is derived from studies in nocturnal rodents studied under tightly controlled laboratory conditions. However, the expression of sleep can vary dramatically between species, and even with species, depending on, for example, ecological conditions, season and moon phase. This presentation will highlight how the amount and patterns of sleep in mammals and birds are affected by environmental influences such as light and ambient temperature.
About the seminar series
Once a month, NCMBM invites international guest speakers to present on topics within molecular life science and medicine.
The seminar is open to all, with no registration needed.
Tea, coffee and a simple lunch will be served at 11.30 before the seminar.