Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have taken a major step in addressing sleep disorders by identifying the natural tryptamine (trpA) molecule. According to the journal Nature Neuroscience, the activation of a special receptor that accepts this substance significantly improves the duration and quality of sleep. This discovery clarifies the key biological mechanisms that trigger sleep after prolonged wakefulness. During experiments, scientists analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid of rats and pigs during various periods of activity. It was found that the longer the animals stayed awake, the higher the concentration of the trpA molecule became, and this level depended not on the time of day, but specifically on the duration of wakefulness. The researchers determined that the molecule is produced and released by specific neurons that become active during wakefulness. Once inside the body, trpA activates the GPR139 receptor, which stimulates neurons in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (the brain's main sleep-initiating region). Additional tests showed that compounds acting on the GPR139 receptor provide longer and deeper sleep in test animals. This discovery paves the way for promising methods of treating insomnia and developing a new generation of sleeping pills.