At the AIME Lab, we explore the intricate neural mechanisms of emotional memory processing during sleep. By integrating advanced optical techniques such as two-photon imaging, optogenetics, electrophysiology, and genetic targeting approaches, our research will unveil the dynamics of emotion-encoding microcircuits across sleep-wake states and investigate how the brain stores salient environmental information during sleep. This fundamental research will provide a foundation for innovative strategies to address affective-, memory-, and sleep-related disorders, bridging basic neuroscience and potential therapeutic breakthroughs, and bringing us one step closer to unraveling the enduring mystery of why we sleep.