Synonyms
Reticular formation
Definition
The reticular activating system (RAS) denotes that part of the brainstem reticular formation that performs a crucial role in maintaining behavioral arousal, consciousness, and motivation.
Current Knowledge
The reticular activating system (RAS) denotes that part of the brainstem reticular formation that performs a crucial role in maintaining behavioral arousal, consciousness, and motivation. The RAS receives a wide range of inputs and projects as a diffusely organized neural complex extending from the core of the medulla oblongata through the subthalamus and thalamus. These cell groups send their axons to broad areas of the cerebral cortex with most terminating in the frontal lobe where they alert or activate the cerebral cortex as a whole. Once alerted, the conscious/perceptive part of the brain takes over, recognizes the source of the arousal, and addresses the problem. The reticular formation also gives rise to descending axons which pass to...
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
Merchant, R.E. (2018). Reticular Activating System. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_357
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_357
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-57110-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57111-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences