Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2012
Publication Title
Progress in Neurobiology
Abstract
Fatigue is a symptom associated with many disorders, is especially common in women and in older adults, and can have a huge negative influence on quality of life. Although most past research on fatigue uses human subjects instead of animal models, the use of appropriate animal models has recently begun to advance our understanding of the neurobiology of fatigue. In this review, results from animal models using immunological, developmental, or physical approaches to study fatigue are described and compared. Common across these animal models is that fatigue arises when a stimulus induces activation of microglia and/or increased cytokines and chemokines in the brain. Neurobiological studies implicate structures in the ascending arousal system, sleep executive control areas, and areas important in reward. In addition, the suprachiasmatic nucleus clearly plays an important role in homeostatic regulation of the neural network mediating fatigue. This nucleus responds to cytokines, shows decreased amplitude firing rate output in models of fatigue, and responds to exercise, one of our few treatments for fatigue. This is a young field but very important as the symptom of fatigue is common across many disorders and we do not have effective treatments.
Keywords
Animal model, Circadian, Cytokine, Fatigue, Suprachiasmatic
Volume
99
Issue
2
First Page
93
Last Page
105
DOI
10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.07.004
ISSN
03010082
Recommended Citation
Harrington, Mary E., "Neurobiological Studies of Fatigue" (2012). Psychology: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/psy_facpubs/94
Comments
Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.