Wisden will present evidence that certain types of stress can induce a restorative sleep. This is mediated by sleep-inducing circuitry in the midbrain and, in particular, inhibitory GABAergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area. A specific circuit allows animals to restore mental and body functions by sleeping, potentially providing a refined route for treating anxiety disorders. Wisden will also present unpublished findings on basal ganglia circuitry that generates REM sleep and how this REM circuitry can modulate anxiety.