Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified a subset of excitatory neurons in the thalamic nucleus reuniens (mRE) as key regulators of sleep homeostasis. Activation of these neurons in mice induces increased and deeper non-REM sleep hours later, implicating them in processes that promote recovery after sleep deprivation. Utilizing chemogenetic and optogenetic tools, the study delineates these neurons' role in modulating arousal and sleep restorative behaviors, providing critical insight into the neural circuitry underpinning sleep debt compensation and opening avenues for targeted interventions in sleep disorders.