Quality sleep is imperative for the maintenance of good health. It is clear that sleep homeostasis is influenced by various neuroendocrine systems. In turn, neuroendocrine function is intimately associated with sleep; persons suffering from sleep disturbances are not only fatigued but also have impaired or dysfunctional neuroendocrine systems that affect the quality of daily life. Thus, the relationship between sleep and neuroendocrinology is an area of intense clinical and scientific interest. Understanding how neuroendocrine mediators affect sleep is central to advancing our understanding of sleep-related disorders.

The main focus of this special issue will be on current findings and ideas that advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the neuroendocrine control of sleep and arousal. We invite authors to present original research articles as well as review articles that will encourage future dialogue among clinicians and researchers. We welcome both clinical and basic findings.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

• Sex differences in sleep including sex differences in sleep pathologies (e.g., restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, insomnia, etc.)
• Hormonal modulation of sleep and sleep architecture including endocrine disorders that may contribute to sleep disorders
• Influence of neuroendocrine mediators on key sleep/arousal brain nuclei
• Secretory patterns (circadian versus sleep-/wake-locked) of hormones
• Sleep disruption/restriction and endocrine function
• Stress axis and sleep
• Obesity and sleep
• Metabolism and sleep
• Puberty and sleep

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ije/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/, according to the following timetable: