Ras (Noun)
Meaning
The network in the reticular formation that serves an alerting or arousal function.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The reticular activating system, or RAS, is a network in the brain that plays a crucial role in regulating arousal and sleep-wake transitions.
- Damage to the RAS can result in a coma or persistent vegetative state, characterized by a lack of responsiveness to the environment.
- The RAS receives input from sensory pathways and sends output to various parts of the brain, including the thalamus and cortex, to modulate alertness and attention.
- Stimulation of the RAS can increase alertness and arousal, while damage or disruption to the RAS can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness or somnolence.
- The RAS is thought to play a key role in the regulation of consciousness, with dysfunction of the RAS contributing to disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea.