It plays role in many important functions, including sleep and waking, behavioral motivation, breathing, and the beating of the heart.
Scientists have found out that the reticular activating system (RAS) comprise of two important parts known as the ascending reticular system and the descending reticular system. The ascending system is connected to cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, and also the thalamus. The reticular activating system is located in the brain stem. Brain scans are used to observe the reticular activating system's role during sleep and dreaming. Sleep control is the domain of the reticular activating system. Trauma to the RAS area has been linked to narcolepsy. reticular activating system. n. Abbr. RAS. The part of the reticular formation in the brainstem that plays a central role in bodily and behavioral alertness; its ascending connections affect the function of the cerebral cortex and its descending connections affect bodily posture and reflex mechanisms. The Reticular Activating System Part of the problem with people’s ability to learn and retain information is physical and hereditary. It is because of a switch in your brain called the Reticular Activating System, and most people are unaware it even exists. Literally -- imagine it. Because if you do, then you'll be putting your brain's Reticular Activating System into function -- and that can be the difference between achieving your dreams, or living a life of quiet desperation. The reticular activating system (RAS) is one of the most important parts of the brain. This article is a short introduction to the system's functions and the way it influences human behavior. The reticular activating system (RAS), or extrathalamic control modulatory system, is a set of connected nuclei in the brains of vertebrates that is responsible for regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions. As its name implies, its most influential component is the reticular formation. The reticular activating system (RAS) is a part of the mammalian brain located in the brain stem. In human biology, it is believed to play a role in many important functions, including sleep and waking, behavioral motivation, breathing, and the beating of the heart.
http://www.innovateus.net/health/what-function-reticular-activating-system http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-reticular-activating-system.htm http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/reticular+activating+system http://www.thriveinlife.ca/thrive/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/The-Reticular-Activating-System1.pdf http://www.meaningfulhq.com/reticular-activating-system-function.html http://www.buzzle.com/articles/reticular-activating-system.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticular_activating_system http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-reticular-activating-system.htm
what is the function of the reticular activating system