Apparently, some scientists from Wake Forest University have been able to determine another area of sleep deprivation. This largely deals with the brain secretions called Orexin-A. Whenever we are asleep, it usually follows that there are certain internal human body processes that occur and from the looks of it, this identified secretion of hypocretin-1 may yet help solve the growing issue of sleep deprivation and narcolepsy.

(Source) Orexin-A, also known as hypocretin-1, is a naturally occurring peptide produced in the brain that regulates sleep. It’s secreted by a small number of neurons but affects many brain regions during the day and people who have normal amounts of orexin-A are able to maintain wakefulness. When people or animals are sleep-deprived, the brain attempts to produce more orexin-A, but often without enough success to achieve alertness past the normal day-night cycle.

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