John Peever, University of Toronto

Research

Behavioural Neuroscience Behavioural Testing Sleep Dopamine Electrophysiological Recording Mouse Models Narcolepsy Neuroanatomy

Latest papers

Glutamate excitatory inputs to the sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus are necessary for REM sleep-where are they located?
Sleep · 2026
Identification of glutamatergic inputs to the sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus and their role in rapid eye movement sleep control.
Sleep · 2026 · senior author
The impacts of sleep loss on wake-active neurons.
Sleep · 2025 · senior author

All 36 publications

Latest funding

Dopamine circuit control of wakefulness in health and sleepiness in narcolepsy
CIHR · 2022 · Nominated PI
$1,005,976
Circuit control of REM sleep
NSERC · 2018 · Principal investigator
$390,000
Mechanisms of REM sleep behaviour disorder
CIHR · 2018 · Nominated PI
$768,826

All 16 grants and awards

36 publications.

01

Glutamate excitatory inputs to the sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus are necessary for REM sleep-where are they located?

Ngo S, Kim G, Lee H, Taksokhan A, Peever J, Fraigne JJ

Sleep2026

DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsag043 PMID: 41711084

02

Identification of glutamatergic inputs to the sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus and their role in rapid eye movement sleep control.

Ngo S, Kim G, Lee H, Taksokhan A, Fraigne JJ, Peever J

Sleep2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsag014 PMID: 41578852

03

The impacts of sleep loss on wake-active neurons.

Bellesi M, Semba K, Veasey S, Adamantidis A, Peever J

Sleep2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaf248 PMID: 40832925

04

Identification of multiple hypoxia-independent triggers of upper airway long-term facilitation in a rat model of upper airway motor plasticity.

Lui S, Tadjalli A, Fraigne J, Peever J

Physiological reports2025Senior author

DOI: 10.14814/phy2.70142 PMID: 40067835

05

From mechanisms to future therapy: a synopsis of isolated REM sleep behavior disorder as early synuclein-related disease.

Stefani A, Antelmi E, Arnaldi D, Arnulf I, During E, Högl B, Hu MMT, Iranzo A, Luke R, Peever J, Postuma RB, Videnovic A, Gan-Or Z

Molecular neurodegeneration2025

DOI: 10.1186/s13024-025-00809-0 PMID: 39934903

06

REM sleep: Out-dreaming fear.

Dugan BJ, Fraigne JJ, Peever J

Current biology : CB2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.033 PMID: 38772341

07

Sleep: How stress keeps you up at night.

Luke R, Fraigne JJ, Peever J

Current biology : CB2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.052 PMID: 38194923

08

Brain Circuits Underlying Narcolepsy.

Pintwala SK, Peever J

The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1177/10738584211052263 PMID: 34704497

09

The association between sleep quality and obstructive sleep apnea with health-related quality of life in children with obesity.

Xiao L, Voutsas G, Ryan CM, Katz SL, Narang I, Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network, Ayas N, Carrier J, Hanly P, Peever J, Pendharkar S, Skomro R, Narang I

Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine2023

DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.10706 PMID: 37409497

10

Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area modulate rapid eye movement sleep.

Fraigne JJ, Luppi PH, Mahoney CE, De Luca R, Shiromani PJ, Weber F, Adamantidis A, Peever J

Sleep2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad024 PMID: 36775897

Dopamine circuit control of wakefulness in health and sleepiness in narcolepsy

Nominated PICIHR2022Project Grant

Principal investigators: Peever, John H

Keywords: Behavioural Neuroscience; Behavioural Testing; Dopamine; Electrophysiological Recording; Mouse Models; Narcolepsy; Neuroanatomy; Neuroimaging; Sleep; Sleep Disorders

$1,005,976

Circuit control of REM sleep

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Peever, John

$390,000

Mechanisms of REM sleep behaviour disorder

Nominated PICIHR2018Project Grant

Principal investigators: Peever, John H

Keywords: Animal Models Of Disease; Basic Behavioural Studies In Mice; Behavioural Neuroscience; Behavioural Testing; Genetic Analyses And Manipulations; Lewy Pathology; Neurodegeneration; Optogenetics/Chemogenetics; Rem Sleep Behaviour Disorder; Sleep

$768,826

Engaging Patients in Sleep Disorders Research

Co-investigatorCIHR2015Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Cote, Kimberly A

Keywords: Cardio-Vascular Health; Comorbidities; Insomnia; Mental Health; Narcolepsy; Patient Engagement; Periodic Limb Movment (Plm); Restless Leg Syndrome (Rls); Sleep Apnea; Sleep Disorders

$23,293

Mobilizing the healthcare community towards an integrated approach to improving outcomes of patients with sleep disorders - Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network (CSCN)

Co-investigatorCIHR2015ICRH Community Development Program Grants

Principal investigators: Carrier, Julie

Keywords: Aging; Brain Imaging And Cognition; Cardiovacular And Metabolic Health; Circadian Rhythms; Genetics; Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome; Sleep; Sleep And Circadian Treatments; Sleep Disorders; Training

$1,999,713

The neural basis of cataplexy

Nominated PICIHR2015Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Peever, John H

Keywords: Animal Model Of Narcolepsy; Behaviour Testing; Behavioural Studies In Mice; Cataplexy; Genetic Basis Of Sleep Behaviours; In-Vivo Electrophysiological Recordings; Neurological Disorder; Optogenetics; Pharmacogenetics; Rem Sleep

$784,670

Optogenetic equipment for probing the brain circuits controlling sleep and breathing

Principal investigatorNSERC2013Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Peever, John

$44,200

Mechanisms underlying respiratory motor plasticity

Principal investigatorNSERC2012Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Peever, John

$155,000

Planning meeting for the Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network (CSCN)

Co-investigatorCIHR2012Planning Grants - Priority Announcement: Circulatory and Respiratory Health

Principal investigators: Carrier, Julie

Keywords: Circadian; Sleep; Translation

$25,000

Trans-Disciplinary Team Research and Training Program in Sleep and Biological Rhythms

Co-investigatorCIHR2010Team Grant: Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

Principal investigators: Horner, Richard L

Keywords: Cardiovascular; Circadian Rhythms; Development; Metabolism; Neuroscience; Respiration; Sleep

$2,000,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Department of Physiology
Cell and Systems Biology
Translational Medicine
Medicine
Medical Neuroscience
Medicine/Neurology
Other

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Behavioural Neuroscience Dear Professor Peever, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Glutamate excitatory inputs to the sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus are necessary for REM sleep-where are they located?" (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Dopamine circuit control of wakefulness in health and sleepiness in narcolepsy" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]