What is the reticular formation responsible for?

The reticular formation may be best known for its role in promoting arousal and consciousness. These pathways are predominantly associated with the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and norepinephrine, both of which are thought to play important roles in regulating arousal and wakefulness.

What are the three functions of the reticular activating system?

The Reticular Activating System is responsible for our wakefulness, our ability to focus, our fight-flight response, and how we ultimately perceive the world. It can control what we perceive in our consciousness, essentially a gatekeeper of information.

What is the ascending arousal system?

The ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) mediates arousal, an essential component of human consciousness. Each pathway contained different distributions of fiber tracts from known neurotransmitter-specific ARAS nuclei in the brainstem.

How is the reticular formation used in everyday life?

The reticular formation also plays a role in controlling the muscles of facial expression when associated with emotion. For example, when you smile or laugh in response to a joke, the motor control to your facial muscles is provided by the reticular formation on both sides of the brain.

What would happen if the reticular activating system was damaged?

The reticular activating system is the part of the brain that maintains the sleep/wake cycle. Any damage to this region can cause hypersomnolence and drowsiness along with altered sensorium.

What are the functions of the midbrain?

midbrain, also called mesencephalon, region of the developing vertebrate brain that is composed of the tectum and tegmentum. The midbrain serves important functions in motor movement, particularly movements of the eye, and in auditory and visual processing.

What is the function of raphe nuclei?

The raphe nucleus is considered to be part of the reticular formation and is located in the brainstem. It is responsible for the release of serotonin to other parts of the brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs, for example, are thought to act on the raphe nucleus.

How does the reticular activating system keep you awake?

The reticular activating system (RAS) is a complex bundle of nerves in the brain that’s responsible for regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions. The RAS does this by altering the brain’s electrical activity, including the electrical voltage of brain waves and the speed by which neurons (nerve cells) fire.

What happens if the hindbrain is damaged?

Damage to the Hindbrain. Symptoms or conditions associated with damage to the hindbrain depends on the structure which is damaged. Damage to the pons is associated with symptoms such as impaired breathing, sleep disturbances, loss of taste, loss of muscle function (except eye movement), and deafness.