biostudies-literatureKompotis KSwiss National Science Foundatione2220532121https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10801902biostudies-literatureUnknown121(3)MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that have been implicated in a plethora of neuronal processes. Nevertheless, their role in regulating brain activity in the context of sleep has so far received little attention. To test their involvement, we deleted mature miRNAs in post-mitotic neurons at two developmental ages, i.e., in early adulthood using conditional <i>Dicer</i> knockout (cKO) mice and in adult mice using an inducible conditional <i>Dicer</i> cKO (icKO) line. In both models, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was affected and the response to sleep deprivation (SD) altered; while the rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) rebound was compromised in both, the increase in EEG delta (1 to 4 Hz) power during non-REMS (NREMS) was smaller in cKO micProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaCortical <i>miR-709</i> links glutamatergic signaling to NREM sleep EEG slow waves in an activity-dependent manner.PMC10801902136201130825Hubbard JPolysopoulos CMongrain VHebert SSEmmenegger YKompotis KWigger LMang GMFranken PJimenez SHor CNfalseCortical <i>miR-709</i> links glutamatergic signaling to NREM sleep EEG slow waves in an activity-dependent manner.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that have been implicated in a plethora of neuronal processes. Nevertheless, their role in regulating brain activity in the context of sleep has so far received little attention. To test their involvement, we deleted mature miRNAs in post-mitotic neurons at two developmental ages, i.e., in early adulthood using conditional <i>Dicer</i> knockout (cKO) mice and in adult mice using an inducible conditional <i>Dicer</i> cKO (icKO) line. In both models, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was affected and the response to sleep deprivation (SD) altered; while the rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) rebound was compromised in both, the increase in EEG delta (1 to 4 Hz) power during non-REMS (NREMS) was smaller in cKO mic2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jan2025-04-04T07:24:42.365Z2025-04-04T07:24:42.365ZS-EPMC108019023820707710.1073/pnas.2220532121