Other Definitions
reticular formation (dict)
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Reticular FormationReticular formation is a part of the brain which is involved in stereotypical actions, such as walking, sleeping, and lying down. The reticular formation, phylogenetically one of the oldest portions of the brain, is a poorly-differentiated area of the brain stem, centered roughly in the pons, but with the ascending reticular activating system connecting to areas in the thalamus, hypothalamus, and cortex, and the descinding reticular activating system connecting to the cerebellum and sensory nerves. There is some reason to regard the reticular formation as "motivation central" for the brain, as it appears not only to control physical behaviors such as sleep, but also has been shown to play a major role in alertness, fatigue, and motivation to perform various activities. Some researchers have speculated that the reticular formation controls approximately 25 specific and mutually-exclusive behaviors, including sleep, walking, eating, urination, defecation, and sexual activity. Lesions in the reticular formation have been found in the brains of people who have post-polio syndrome, and some imaging studies have shown abnormal activity in the area in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, indicating a high likelihood that damage to the reticular formation is responsible for the fatigue experienced with these syndromes. There are also imaging studies that suggest that abnormalities in the reticular formation may be responsible for at least some cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. References Santrock, Psychology, 7th Edition, McGrawHill Higher Education
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