Medulla: Lateral and paramedian retic. nuclei  Pons: reticulo-tegmental and locus ceruleus 

Motor functions

from monoaminergic neurons and PAG

regulate autonomic and affective (emotional) processes

synthesizes nEpi

located in dorsolat aspect of rostral pons (near the 4th ventricle)

supplies forebrain and cerebral cortex

Dopaminergic 

neurons

1. Substantia nigra projects to basal ganglia

2. VTA projects to the rest of the brain (cerebral cortex, thalamus, limbic, etc)

a. DA to nucleus accumbens - addiction

b. DA elevated in prefrontal region in schizophrenia 

• Raphe Nucleus to entire forebrain
• Excess 5-HT: Rage and Aggression
• Low 5-HT: depression and anxiety

1. directly

2.  CM nucleus (thalamus) and than cerebral cortex

3. CM nucleus (thalamus) to specific thalamic nuclei than to cerebral cortex

Midcollicular brainstem cut

Removes CN inputs (esp CN V) to cerebral cortex

causes higher amplitude, lower freq EEGS

cut brainstem at lower level and sever connection to spinal cord (CN inputs intact)

low amplitude, low freq amplitude

1. elec stimulation of retic formation causes EEG desynchronization in cerebral cortex

2. mental activity causes increased blood flow in retic formation and cerebral cortex 

Coma Avigil

aka

akinetic mutism

damage to retic formation in pons brainstem

alpha rhythms , intact reflexes, and normal eye movements

1. Pons: Reticularis Pontis Oralis or Caudalis - medial reticulospinal tract - excitatory

2. Medulla: Nucleus Gigantocellularis - lateral reticulospinal tract - inhibitory

1. Ascending spinothal. tract gives off collateral which synapses with PAG which synapses with raphe nucleus

2. two ways for pain inhibition: directly on sp-thal tract or indeirectly by exciting inhibitory enkephalinergic neurons

1. Voluntary Conjugate Movements to the Right are initiated by left frontal lobe

2. Involuntary conjugate movements to the Right are initiated by the occipital lobe

eye can't move to the right

intact left pontine center moves both eyes to the left