A gene called Npas4, already known to play a key role in balancing excitatory and inhibitory inputs in brain cells, appears to also be a master timekeeper for the brain’s circadian clock, new research led by UT Southwestern scientists suggests. The finding, published online today in Neuron, broadens understanding of the circadian clock’s molecular mechanisms, which could eventually lead to new treatments for managing challenges such as jet lag, shift work, and sleep disorders.