RETICULAR FORMATION,

Reticular Formation
Diffused mass of neurons and nerve fibers forming an ill-defined meshwork of reticulum in the central portion of the brainstem.

Various nuclei: 1) Nuclei of medullary reticular

formation 2) Nuclei of pontine reticular formation 3) Nuclei of midbrain reticular

formation
within the meshes of this reticulum are located functionally associated nervous structures which are vestibular nucleus, red nucleus and subthalamic nucleus.

Situated: - Downwards into spinal cord

- Upwards up to thalamus and subthalamus

RETICULAR FORMATION AFFERENT & EFFERENT CONNECTIONS OF RETICULAR FORMATION

Cerebellum Substancia Nigra Cortex Reticular Formation SC Tectum Thalamus, Hypothalamus
EFFERENT CONNECTION TO THE RETICULAR FORMATION

Sensory Pathways Thalamus

Optic, auditory olfactory and taste pathways

Red Nucleus

Cerebellum

Reticular Formation

Cortex

SC Corpus Striatum
(Touch, pain, temperature, kinesthestic sensation)

AFFERENT CONNECTION TO THE RETICULAR FORMATION

Reticular neurons are classified into:

- sensory neurons - Motor neurons

Sensory neuron
Small in size Large in number Receive impulses from; Lemniscal pathways in brain stem (medial, lateral,trigeminal and spinal lemnsci) Olfactory pathway-vestibular apparatus-cerebral cortexcerebellum-hypothalamus

Motor neurons
Large in size Small in number Receive impulse from sensory neurons. They are 2 types: Facilitatory reticular formation (FRF) Inhibitory reticular formation(IRF)

 reticular formation Divided into two branches

ASCENDING RETICULAR ACTIVATION SYSTEM

DESCENDING RETICULAR ACTIVATION SYSTEM

DESCENDING RETICULAR ACTIVATION SYSTEM - DRAS

INHIBITORY (gives origin to crossed lateral reticulospinal tract.) Smoothness and accuracy of

FACILITATORY (gives origin to the uncrossed medial reticulospinal tract )

maintains the muscle tone;

voluntary movements; Reflex movements; Regulates muscle tone; Maintenance of posture;

Facilitates autonomic functions; Activates ARAS.

ASCENDING RETICULAR ACTIVATION SYSTEM ARAS

Receives fibers from the

sensory pathways via long ascending spinal tracts. Extends upward as reticular activating system (RAS) that relays in non specific thalamic nuclei (intralaminar and midline nuclei) then thalamic radiation arises toward the cerebral cortex. This pathway is called reticulo-thalamocortical pathway

Ascending Reticular Activating System - ARAS

Functions:
Alertness, maintenance of attention and wakefulness. Emotional reactions, important in learning processes. It controls the ability to filter out information from external sources and focus on one particular fact, detail or thought . It is responsible for providing an integrated (cardiovascular, respiratory and motor) response to external stimuli. The Reticular Activating System is the attention center in the brain. It is the key to "turning on your brain," and also seems to be the center of motivation.

Factors affecting activity of RAS

Factors increasing the activity of RAS
Impulses from sensory,motor pathways. Stress Sympathomimetic drugs Caffeine Thyroid hormone

Factors decreasing the activity of RAS

Decreased sensory input Impulses from sleep centers Anesthetic drugs Tumor that destroy this system