New study sheds light on the role of hypothalamic orexin neurons (HONs) as a highly specific interface between motor activity and the internal physiological state. Key findings show that they:
Encode movement with remarkable precision via distinct high-frequency signals, independently of metabolic processes.
Send movement-related signals to targeted brain regions, indicating a specialized function in motor regulation.
Surpass other brain areas in their ability to represent motion, suggesting that motor activity serves as an effective proxy for HON function.
Full article: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.103738.2
Why it matters for neurorehabilitation:
HONs are essential for activating the somatomotor system.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) triggers orexin release [1], which is linked to neuroprotection and recovery after brain injury [2–3].
HONs are implicated in learning new motor skills important for neurorehabilitation [4–5].
Foundational neuroscience research is the key to success in our mission at Skaaltec by allowing targeted development of effective therapy. A growing body of evidence suggests that orexin neurons are a principal downstream pathway for VNS, thereby bridging fundamental neuroscience and practical applications such as SmartVNS. Congratulations to the authors: Alexander Tesmer, Skaaltec co-founders, Dr. Paulius Viskaitis and Dr. Dane Donegan, and Prof. Dr. Denis Burdakov. We are lucky to be able to draw on the deep knowledge of the neurological basis of motor control in our team and network!
[1] Winter, Y. et al. (2024). Brain Stimul, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2024.01.002
[2] Dong, X. Y. et al. (2018). Neural Regen Res, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.226395
[3] Kang, J. et al. (2025). Eur J Med Res 30, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02870-3
[4] Donegan, D. et al. (2022). PNAS Nexus, 1(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac240
[5] Donegan, D. et al. (2022). J Neurosci, 42(32). https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0705-22.2022
