Cited by 112Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ResearchSleep and Wakefulness ResearchSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Neurobiological studies of fatigue

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Harrington, Mary E.·2012·Progress in Neurobiology

Abstract

Fatigue is a symptom associated with many disorders, is especially common in women and in older adults, and can have a huge negative influence on quality of life. Although most past research on fatigue uses human subjects instead of animal models, the use of appropriate animal models has recently begun to advance our understanding of the neurobiology of fatigue. In this review, results from animal models using immunological, developmental, or physical approaches to study fatigue are described and compared. Common across these animal models is that fatigue arises when a stimulus induces activation of microglia and/or increased cytokines and chemokines in the brain. Neurobiological studies implicate structures in the ascending arousal system, sleep executive control areas, and areas important in reward. In addition, the suprachiasmatic nucleus clearly plays an important role in homeostatic regulation of the neural network mediating fatigue. This nucleus responds to cytokines, shows decreased amplitude firing rate output in models of fatigue, and responds to exercise, one of our few treatments for fatigue. This is a young field but very important as the symptom of fatigue is common across many disorders and we do not have effective treatments.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.07.004

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Authors
Harrington, M. E.
Affiliations
Smith College (US)
Corresponding author
Harrington, Mary E.
Venue
Progress in Neurobiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-11
Volume
99
Issue
2
Pages
93-105
ISSN
0301-0082 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2038548714
Cited by
112
References
168
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 4
FWCI
1.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Progress in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Smith ScholarWorks (Smith College) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Cancer Institute (R21CA125215)
  • National Institute of Nursing Research (R21NR012845)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
Keywords
fatigue, microglial activation, cytokines, chemokines, ascending arousal system, reward, suprachiasmatic nucleus, homeostatic regulation, physical activity, quality of life
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Disease Models, Animal, Fatigue, Humans, Neurobiology, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic, Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System

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