reticular activating system

1 6.7

Part of the brain that helps keep you awake and alert

noun
/rɪˈtɪkjələr ˈæktɪveɪtɪŋ ˈsɪstəm/

Specialized

: sistema reticular activador

So the cortical dimensions of consciousness are generated in some sense by the reticular activating system of the brain stem.
the reticular activating system of the brain

I mean, you know about Ras, the reticular activating system.

Examples

And with time and experience and exposure and practice using the reticular activating system to notice things around me.
The researchers supported previous studies showing that the ability to concentrate is based on the reticular activating system of the brain.

Academic text (2000)
And with time and experience and exposure and practice using the reticular activating system to notice things around me.
But technically, the reticular activating system is a live network of neurons that sit like almost like a hairnet over your brain.
But technically, the reticular activating system is a live network of neurons that sit like almost like a hairnet over your brain.
And he said if there's a mismatch, the reticular activating system is activated, disrupts the model and changes it.
The brain's reticular activating system (RAS) filters out about 99% of the information that comes at us at any moment, allowing us to focus only on the important pieces of information.

Academic text (2013)
This subcortical system consists of the brain stem's reticular activating system, thalamus, hypothalamus, and basal ganglia.

Academic text (1997)
The reticular activating system plays a crucial role in regulating our level of alertness throughout the day.
Researchers found that stimulating the reticular activating system can enhance attention and wakefulness.

Synonyms

reticular formation

vsreticular activating system

Specialized

1 8.7

A network of nerve cells deep in the brain that helps control being awake, attention, sleep, and muscle tone

is the specific part that focuses mainly on alertness and arousal

RAS

vsreticular activating system

Specialized

1 9.0

Part of the brainstem that helps you stay awake and alert

is the same network but given in the full term rather than the abbreviation

Surface Forms

reticular activating system singular

reticular activating systems plural

Morphology

reticular + activating + system

The compound parts ('reticular' = netlike, 'activating' = causing activation, 'system' = ensemble) let a learner infer this is a system with a netlike structure that causes or supports activation, so there is some compositional clue. However, the specific technical referent — the brainstem mechanism that regulates alertness and arousal — is specialized and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so prior domain knowledge is needed.

Etymology

Reticular activating system comes from words that mean a net and an alarm: reticular means 'net-like' and activating system is like something that turns things on. Imagine a net of nerve cells in the lower part of the brain that acts like a small alarm to wake and keep you alert, so the phrase names the brain part that controls 'alertness' and being awake.