Acetylcholine and metacognition during sleep.
Consciousness and cognition January 1, 2024 Jarrod A Gott, Sina Stücker, Philipp Kanske et al. 22 citations
Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in cognition and REM sleep regulation, may play a role in lucid dreaming—a state where metacognitive awareness returns during sleep. Recent studies using acetylcholinesterase inhibitors suggest a link, but the causal mechanisms remain unknown. This review examines theories connecting acetylcholine and metacognition across wakefulness and sleep, analyzing the phenomenon at microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic levels. It develops exploratory hypotheses to guide future research on how acetylcholine receptor activity affects metacognition.