Ascending reticular system: what it is, parts, functions and how to activate it

The advancement of science has allowed us to have access to different knowledge on a wide variety of topics. Some researchers have been interested in understanding the processes that take place in the human body. The body has a large network of sectors and parts that contribute to its proper functioning, but are there people who do not have certain body areas? The reality is that yes, but that produces a decrease in certain capacities such as sleeping.

However, this does not happen by itself, but there are certain areas of the body that are responsible for managing the physiological processes of sleep and wakefulness. If you want to know more about this, in this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about the ascending reticular system: what it is, parts, functions and how to activate it.

Index

1. What is the ascending reticular system
2. Parts of the ascending reticular system
3. Functions of the ascending reticular system
4. How to activate the ascending reticular activating system

The ascending reticular activating system (RAAS), known as the ascending reticular system in one of the subunits that make up the reticular formation, a set of interconnected neurons, through synaptic connections, located throughout the brainstem.

Specifically, the ascending reticular system is a very important part of the nervous system, as it is responsible for regulating the transitions between the states of sleep and wakefulness.

The ascending reticular system is made up of various types of nuclei specialized in different types of neurotransmitters with diverse functions. For this reason, each part of the ascending reticular system takes the name of each sector. Next, we will see in detail the parts of the nuclei that form the ascending reticular system:

• noradrenergic nuclei: here are the locus coeruleus and noradrenergic nuclei of the brainstem. These nuclei influence the regulation of body temperature, as well as attention, mood, and the incidence of the cardiovascular system.
• serotonergic nucleiThe dorsal and medial raphe nuclei meet. Serotonin is the component of these nuclei that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
• histaminergic nucleus: Located in the posterior hypothalamus, histaminergic neurons regulate the wake cycle, in the same way that other nuclei, and also favor digestion, the immune response against pathogenic organisms and the performance sexual.
• dopaminergic nuclei: responsible for the production of dopamine, one of the hormones involved in the development of memory, intellectual function and movement control. The main dopaminergic nuclei are the ventral tegmental area and the black substance.
• cholinergic nuclei: They are located between the amygdala, the hippocampus and the neocortex. The main ones are the cholinergic nuclei of the forebrain and the nuclei of the pontine tegmentum, specifically the laterodorsal and pedunculopontine nuclei. Its function is to regulate cognition and the processing of information from the outside. On the other hand, the cholinergic nuclei also regulate the motricity of the organism
• glutamatergic nuclei:Glutamate is another of the hormones that acts in the development of functions of the human organism. At the thalamic level, we have the supramammillary nucleus, and at the brainstem level, we have the parabrachial nucleus, the precoeruleus, and the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus.
• thalamic nuclei: are the intermediate areas known as the thalamic reticular nucleus and interlaminar nucleus. They are responsible for processing sensory information, that is, the thalamic nuclei are involved in sending information to certain areas of the cerebral cortex.

In line with the previous section, it is important to know what the ascending reticular system does in order to understand in which physiological processes of the organism it intervenes. As we have mentioned, each nucleus of this structure has its particularity that affects it. Next, we will present the main functions of the ascending reticular system:

• Regulation of the sleep-wake cycle: neurotransmitters linked to the management of sleep and wake states enable the passage from one state to another.
• Maintaining the state of consciousness: the ability to think and reflect on our own actions is closely related to the proper functioning of the ascending reticular system.
• Focus of attention: human beings have the quality of establishing certain focuses of attention in different situations. This occurs thanks to the intervention of the ascending reticular system. To understand it better, you can refer to this article on the selective attention: definition, examples and exercises.

There are different methods to activate the ascending reticular system to optimize and improve its performance. We show them below:

• Playing sports or doing any activity that involves physical effort.
• Respect the cycle of sleep and wakefulness. If you find it hard to fall asleep, in this article, we tell you how to sleep fast and deep.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
• Adopt the habit of reading.
• Visualize goals and/or objectives.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Ascending reticular system: what it is, parts, functions and how to activate it, we recommend that you enter our category of neuropsychology.

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• Villanova, L. (2002). The integrative role of the medullary reticular formation in the processing of nociceptive information. Elements Magazine: Science and culture, 9 (46), 11-17.