Our research focuses on understanding the genetic, anatomical, and molecular regulation of sleep and cognitive function in response to stress. We utilize multiple model organisms, including the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and rodents to understand how stress modulates sleep behaviors. The fruit fly is a powerful genetic model for studying the role of different genes in sleep regulation. Based on phylogeneticaly-conserved mechanisms of sleep, lessons learned from Drosophila can be translated to the rodent to further our understanding of the behavioral, anatomical, and electrophysiological mechanisms regulating sleep, cognitive performance, and the response to stress. Current studies are focused on understanding the contribution of inflammatory cytokines and neurotransmitters in regulating synaptic plasticity and synapse morphology.