Activation of Scer\GAL4NP2721-expressing dorsal paired medial (DPM) neurons results in an immediate and dramatic increase in sleep. Activating DPMs does not alter the level of locomotor activity during waking periods. The flies are immediately arousable by gentle tapping and have normal geotaxis and locomotion. Upon cessation of activation, flies show reduced sleep. Blocking vesicle release in these flies completely blocks these increases in sleep.
Silencing Scer\GAL4NP2721-expressing dorsal paired medial (DPM) neurons results in a small but significant decrease in levels of nighttime sleep relative to controls.