reticular formation is located on the brain at brainstem.
reticular formation is located on the brain at brainstem.
where is reticular formation located on the brain?
brainstem
the reticular formation is a set of interconnected nuclei that are located throughout the brainstem. the reticular formation is not anatomically well defined because it includes neurons located in different parts of the brain. the neurons of the reticular formation make up a complex set of networks in the core of the brainstem that extend from the upper part of the midbrain to the lower part of the medulla oblongata. the reticular formation includes ascending pathways to the cortex in the ascending reticular activating system (aras) and descending pathways to the spinal cord via the reticulospinal tracts of the descending reticular formation.
reticular formation
the term "reticular formation" was coined in the late 19th century by otto deiters, coinciding with ramon y cajal’s "neuron doctrine". allan hobson states in his book "the reticular formation revisited" that the name is an etymological vestige from the fallen era of the aggregate field theory in the neural sciences. the term "reticulum" means "netlike structure", which is what the reticular formation resembles at first glance. it has been described as being either too complex to study or an undifferentiated part of the brain with no organization at all. eric kandel describes the reticular formation as being organized in a similar manner to the intermediate gray matter of the spinal cord. this chaotic, loose, and intricate form of organization is what has turned off many researchers from looking farther into this particular area of the brain. the cells lack clear ganglionic boundaries, but do have clear functional organizations and distinct cell types. the term "reticular formation" is seldom used anymore except to speak in generalities. modern scientists usually refer to the individual nuclei that compose the reticular formation.
reticular formation