Let’s Appreciate... The Reticular Formation
What is it?
A collection of neuron groups within your brainstem that plays a crucial role in your consciousness.
Image obtained from sketchclub.com, drawn by Cari
What’s so important about it?
The Reticular Formation is what keeps you behaviourally aroused and generally aware of your surroundings. You know it’s important because it’s in your brainstem, which is where some of the most crucial brain functions lie (such as your heartbeat and breathing, those minor things).
It’s split into three columns: 1. one responsible for making serotonin to regulate your mood 2. one responsible for motor coordination 3. one responsible for exhalation
What happens if I damage it?
There is a good chance you’ll fall into a coma. Without a properly-functioning reticular formation to keep you conscious and aware... you’ll slip into a vegetable state. Not ideal.
What has it done for me specifically in the past 20 minutes?
Perhaps you were sat at your desk, staring at your computer screen. You adjust your posture to get more comfortable, you breath, you cough gently, a new Youtube video thumbnail grabs your interest, you lean in a little closer and sit up a little straighter, happy to watch instead of doing boring work.
You can thank our good friend, the reticular formation, for these actions that add a little comfort and arousal (non-sexual, of course) into your days.