LIFESCI 2C03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Reticular Formation, Catecholamine, Brainstem
Document Summary
A tumor near the brainstem is hard to remove as you can damage the surrounding area which control vital functions. Brain-stem reticular formation is a highway running through the major neurotransmitter-nodes: Nucleus: cluster of neurons, synapses, or cell bodies. Along the brain steam we have neurons which produce different neurotransmitters. All organs in the brain are neurons connected with nerve fibres. The 3 catecholamine neurotransmitters: dopamine (ventral tegmentum, serotonin (raphe nucleus) Tegmentum: the ventral part of the midbrain; includes the periaqueductal gray matter, reticular formation, red nucleus and substantia nigra. Activation leads to arousal, drug-seeking behavior, impulsivity. High levels (of dopamine) associated with: drug addiction, impulsive behavior. Low levels (of dopamine) in substantia nigra associated with parkinson"s disease. The ventral tegmental nuclei is associated with dopamine. Found in the brain stem, their main function is to release. Found in the brain stem, their main function is to release serotonin to the rest of the brain.