State-dependent and region-specific alterations of cerebellar connectivity across stable human wakefulness and NREM sleep states

Sleep regulation and functioning may rely on systematic coordination throughout the whole brain, including the cerebellum. However, whether and how interactions between the cerebellum and other brain regions vary across sleep stages remain poorly understood. Here, using simultaneous EEG-fMRI recordings captured from 73 partic-ipants during wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, we constructed cerebellar connectivity among intrinsic functional networks with intra-cerebellar, neocortical and subcortical regions. We uncovered that cerebellar connectivity exhibited sleep-dependent alterations: slight differences between wakefulness and N1/N2 sleep and greater changes in N3 sleep than other states. Region-specific cerebellar connectivity changes between N2 sleep and N3 sleep were also revealed: general breakdown of intra-cerebellar connectivity, enhancement of limbic-cerebellar connectivity and alterations of cerebellar connectivity with spatially specific neocortices. Further correlation analysis showed that functional connectivity between the cerebellar Control II network and regions (including the insula, hippocampus, and amygdala) correlated with delta power during N3 and beta power during N2 sleep. These findings systematically reveal altered cerebellar connectivity among intrinsic net-works from wakefulness to deep sleep and highlight the potential role of the cerebellum in sleep regulation and functioning.

Automated summary

Sleep regulation and functioning may rely on coordinated interactions between the cerebellum and other brain regions. This study used EEG-fMRI recordings to examine cerebellar connectivity during wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. The results showed sleep-dependent alterations in cerebellar connectivity, with greater changes in deep N3 sleep compared to other states. Furthermore, specific changes in cerebellar connectivity between N2 sleep and N3 sleep were observed, highlighting the potential role of the cerebellum in sleep regulation and functioning.