4.11 Brainstem Class Notes Flashcards
neuromodulators
- almost always slower
- released upstream of the axon terminal
neurotransmitters
- fast or slow acting
- released from the presynaptic membrane
flat affect in schizos
- too much dopamine being released from SN
- dopamine thought to underlie affect
Which CNs come off the midbrain?
3
4
Which CNs come off the pons?
5
6
7
8
Which CNs come off the medulla?
9-12
anterior (basilar) brainstem
motor (ventral)
middle (tegmentum) function
- CN function
- sensory integration
- reticular formation
posterior (tectum) function
reflexive movements of eyes and head
tracts that begin in the brainstem
- rubrospinal
- reticulospinal
- vestibulospinal
- raphespinal
- ceruleospinal
What is the “core” of the brainstem?
reticular formation
RF contains
- reticular nucleu
- ascending & descending reticular pathways
3 major functions of RF
- integration of sensory/cortical
- modulation of nociception
- regulation of consciousness, motor, autonomic
4 RF nuclei
- ventral tegmental area (VTA)
- PPN
- Raphe nuclei
- Locus ceruleus
The RF nuclei use (NT/NM)
neuromodulators
VTA uses this NM
dopamine
function of VTA
- reward center
- motivation
- decision making
targets of VTA
- ventral striatum
- hippocampus
- amygdala
- prefrontal cortex
ventral striatum is associated with
pleasure and reward
hippocampus is associated with
memory
amygdala is associated with
- emotion
- conversion to long-term memories
No dopamine in prefrontal cortex »
flat affect
NM for PPN
acetylcholine
function of PPN
influences movement (sp. postural muscles)
targets of the PPN
- prefrontal cortex
- motor thalamus
- GP, STN
- limbic system
- origin of RST
NM for Raphe nuclei
serotonin
function of Raphe nuclei
modulation of arousal levels
Raphe nuclei: midbrain
mood (serotonin makes ya happy)
Raphe nuclei: pons
modulates sensory, autonomic, and motor (more with motivation to move)
Raphe nuclei: medulla
modulation of pain/sensory
Why might people with depression feel pain?
due to Raphe nuclei
- interferes with serotonin release onto dorsal horn
targets of Raphe nuclei
- cerebral cortex
- thalamus
- tectum (MB)
- striatum
- amygdala
- hippocampus
- SC
NM for the locus ceruleus
norepinephrine
norepinephrine/epi target this
hypothalamus (major part of endocrine system)
function of locus ceruleus
primarily attention (most active during attn)
ascending pathways of locus ceruleus
direct attn
descending pathways of locus ceruleus
activation of LMNs + intereurons
targets of locus ceruleus
similar to serotonin
- cerebrum
- thalamus
- tectum
- striatum
- amygdala
- hippocampus
- SC
ceruleospinal tract function
inhibits pain in dorsal horn, natural endorphines - can also use epinephrine
What is the locus ceruleus a part of?
the ARAS
ARAS
ascending reticular activating system
How does ARAS affect sleep?
activation wakes up cerebral cortex
What must be the case for normal circadian activity?
All parts of the ARAS need to be fully functional
internal clock
SCN
SCN
suprachiasmatic nucleus
