The Reticular Formation

Question 1

Where is the reticular formation found?

Answer 1

The brainstem

Question 2

What is the function of the reticular formation?

Answer 2

Regulates the level of arousal and conscious awareness

Question 3

What is arousal?

Answer 3

The emotional state associated with some kind of goal or avoidance of something noxious

Question 4

What is consciousness?

Answer 4

Awareness of both the external world and internal states

Question 5

Where does the reticular formation give outputs to?

Answer 5

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Basal forebrain nuclei

Question 6

What neurotransmitter is used to transmit from the reticular formation to the thalamus, hypothalamus and basal forebrain nucleus?

Answer 6

Acetylcholine

Question 7

What neurotransmitter is used to transmit from the thalamus to the cortex?

Answer 7

Glutamate

Question 8

What neurotransmitter is used to transmit from the hypothalamus to the cortex?

Answer 8

Histamine

Question 9

What neurotransmitter is used to transmit from the basal forebrain nuclei to the cortex?

Answer 9

Acetylcholine

Question 10

What frequency wavelength is awakeness on an EEG?

Answer 10

50Hz

Question 11

What waves can be seen on an EEG when the eyes are closed?

Answer 11

Alpha waves

Question 12

What waves can be seen on an EEG in stage 1 sleep?

Answer 12

Theta waves at 10Hz

Question 13

What waves can be seen on an EEG in stage 2/3 sleep?

Answer 13

Theta waves with sleep spindles and k complexes

Question 14

What is a sleep spindle?

Answer 14

Short period of high frequency waves

Question 15

What is a k complex?

Answer 15

Large intermittent low frequency wave

Question 16

What waves can be seen on an EEG in stage 4 sleep?

Answer 16

Delta waves at 1 Hz

Question 17

Which 3 functions are lost in order to sleep?

Answer 17

Sight
Movement
Thoughts

Question 18

What neurotransmitter is used to transmit information from the eye to the reticular formation?

Answer 18

Orexin

Question 19

Where does information from the eye pass through before it reaches the reticular formation?

Answer 19

Hypothalamus

Question 20

What is REM sleep?

Answer 20

Inhibition to the interneuron is lost so the thalamus is over-inhibited

Question 21

Give 4 functions of sleep

Answer 21

Memory consolidation
Clearance of extracellular debris
Energy conservation
Bodily repair

Question 22

What is insomnia?

Answer 22

Inability to sleep- excessive input to the reticular formation

Question 23

What is narcolepsy?

Answer 23

Fall asleep inappropriately- orexin neurones lost

Question 24

What is sleep apnoea?

Answer 24

Excess fat presses on the airway so people wake up suddenly through the night due to hypoxia.