6. Brain Arousal Systems (Karius) Flashcards
What is the general function of the serotonergic pathway in awareness?
“Quiet awareness”
What system of awareness is particularly affected in Alzheimers?
The cholenergic system.
Where is the start of the cholinergic pathway?
Pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei
laterodorsal nuclei
What is the location for the start of the noradrenergic pathway?
Locus ceruleus.
What specific part of the thalamus were we asked to remember as a part of the dorsal pathway?
The intralaminar nucleus of the thalamus.
What is the general function of the noradrenergic pathway in awareness?
The “startle and alert” functions we can see on an EEG.
From where does the raphe nuclei receive stimulus as a part of its awareness pathway?
Spinal cord
Trigeminal nerve
Periaqueductal grey
(Serotonergic pathway)
What are the general functions of each of the awareness pathways in order from least aware to most?
EAA / Cholinergic = Awake
Noradrenergic = Startle and alert
Serotonergic = Quiet awareness
Dopaminergic = Alert and focused awareness (not as well defined)
Which pathway for activation of the cerebral cortex bypasses the thalamus?
The ventral pathway.
What three places provide input to the locus ceruleus and the noradrenergic pathway of awareness?
Paragigantocellularis nuclei
Periaqueductal grey
Cortex itself
What pathway of awareness uses only the ventral pathway to activate the cortex?
The excitatory amino acid pathway traveling through the parabrachial nuclei.
