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10 - Brainstem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2009

David L. Clark ,
Nashaat N. Boutros  and
Mario F. Mendez
David L. Clark
Affiliation:
Ohio State University
Nashaat N. Boutros
Affiliation:
Yale University, Connecticut
Mario F. Mendez
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
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Summary

The brainstem is the connection between the spinal cord, the cerebellum, and the cerebrum. Only recently has it been implicated in behavior. The brainstem is anatomically comprised of three areas: (1) the medulla, (2) the pons, and (3) the midbrain (see Figure 2.1). The medulla, the inferior segment of the brainstem, represents a conical, expanded continuation of the upper cervical spinal cord. The pons lies between the medulla and the midbrain. The midbrain is the smallest and least differentiated division of the brainstem. The nuclei of cranial nerves III through XII are located in the brainstem along with long sensory and motor tracts that pass between the brain and spinal cord. Several regions of the brainstem, however, seem to be significantly involved in behavior. These behaviorally active regions include: (1) the reticular formation, (2) the parabrachial nucleus, (3) the raphe nuclei, (4) the periaqueductal gray, (5) the nucleus locus ceruleus, (6) the lateral tegmental nucleus, and (7) the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The VTA is considered to be one of the basal ganglia (see Chapter 7).

Anatomy and behavioral considerations

Reticular formation

The reticular formation is one of the oldest portions of the brain and represents the core of the brainstem. It is composed of complex collections of cells that form both diffuse cellular aggregations and more defined nuclei.

The ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) is a physiological concept. It is represented anatomically by the central core region of the brainstem (Figure 10.1), including the raphe nuclei (Figure 10.2).

Type
Chapter
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The Brain and Behavior
An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroanatomy
 , pp. 165 - 177
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2005

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