PLoS Biology November 25, 2025

Sleep deprivation and sleep intensity exert distinct effects on cerebral vasomotion and brain pulsations driven by the respiratory and cardiac cycles

by Sara Marie Ulv Larsen, Sebastian Camillo Holst, Anders Stevnhoved Olsen, Brice Ozenne, Dorte Bonde Zilstorff, Kristoffer Brendstrup-Brix, Pia Weikop, Simone Pleinert, Vesa Kiviniemi, Poul Jørgen Jennum, Maiken Nedergaard, Gitte Moos Knudsen The flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the brain is driven by cerebral vasomotion, along with respiratory and cardiac forces. Growing evidence suggests that sleep facilitates this flow, yet the role of homeostatic sleep mechanisms remains largely u