Research in the Vanini Laboratory focuses on understanding the brain circuitry regulating vigilance states of sleep and wakefulness, and how these wake- and sleep-promoting systems contribute to (1) the fluctuation of consciousness levels across sleep-wake states, (2) the recovery of consciousness from general anesthesia, (3) the sleep-pain interface, and (4) the relationship between postoperative sleep disturbances and cognitive function. To this end, we use behavioral assays, electrophysiological (EEG/EMG) recordings, recordings of calcium-dependent neuronal activity, viral tracing for identification of projection pathways, functional neuroanatomy, as well as chemogenetic/optogenetic tools to identify and probe neural networks controlling sleep, wakefulness, and pain. Learn more at https://vanini.med.umich.edu/ {Originally certified gold: September 12, 2011}