1996/01/26 by Shigeo Kinomura, Jonas Larsson, Balázs Gulyás +1 · 1 citation
Neuroscience · Psychology · #Neural dynamics and brain function #Visual perception and processing mechanisms #Memory and Neural Mechanisms #Reticular activating system #Vigilance (psychology) #Arousal #Reticular connective tissue #Midbrain #Reticular formation #Neuroscience #Midbrain reticular formation #Brainstem #Stimulation #Thalamus #Psychology #Tegmentum #Biology #Anatomy #Central nervous system
paper · doi:10.1126/science.271.5248.512
openalex publication_date 1996/01/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
It has been known for over 45 years that electrical stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation and of the thalamic intralaminar nuclei of the brain alerts animals. However, lesions of these sectors fail to impair arousal and vigilance in some cases, making the role of the ascending activating reticular system controversial. Here, a positron emission tomographic study showed activation of the midbrain reticular formation and of thalamic intralaminar nuclei when human participants went from a relaxed awake state to an attention-demanding reaction-time task. These results confirm the role of these areas of the brain and brainstem in arousal and vigilance.