Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2018, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (11): 2022-2024.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.238719

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Restoration of an injured lower dorsal ascending reticular activating system in a patient with intraventricular hemorrhage

 Sung Ho Jang1, Sang Seok Yeo2   

  1. 1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea;
    2 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
  • Received:2018-07-11 Online:2018-11-15 Published:2018-11-15
  • Contact: Sang Seok Yeo, PhD, eangbul@hanmail.net
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (NRF- 2015R1D1A1A01060314). The funding body played no role in the study conception design, in the collection, analysis and inter pretation of data, in the preparation and writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

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Abstract:

The ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) plays a key role in the control of arousal and awareness for consciousness. It is well known that the ARAS originates from the reticular formation (RF) of the brainstem, and connects to the cerebral cortex via intralaminar nuclei (ILN) of thalamus, hypothalamus and direct pathways to the cerebral cortex. The hypothalamus is involved in the regulation of sleep and awareness which is associated with the main timekeeper of consciousness. By contrast, ILN is related to arousal of cortical and subcortical regions. Therefore, precise evaluation of each component of the ARAS is important for assessment and intervention of patients with impaired arousal or awareness. However, exact responsibility of each pathway of the ARAS in the regulation of consciousness remains a topic of interest and concern.