Central Nervous

System: Brain
Stem
Dr. Yulia Fauziyah, M.Sc.
Subtopics The functions of the brain stem

Consciousness

Electroencephalogram

Sleep and EEG patterns during sleep

Comparison of slow-wave and paradoxical

sleep

Behavioral patterns during sleep

The sleep–wake cycle

 Medulla
Pons

Midbrain

Brain Stem

Vital link between the spinal cord and higher brain regions
Reticular Formation

These fibers compose

A widespread network Ascending fibers the reticular activating
of interconnected originating in the system (RAS), which
neurons and runs Receives and reticular formation controls the overall
integrates all incoming
throughout the entire carry signals upward degree of cortical
sensory synaptic input
brain stem and into to arouse and activate alertness and is
the thalamus the cerebral cortex important in the ability
to direct attention
Consciousness
The result is a state of wakefulness called
consciousness
Arousal, or awakening from sleep, also involves increased activity in the
RAS. For arousal to occur, the RAS must be stimulated.

Once the RAS is activated, the cerebral cortex is also activated, and
arousal occurs.

The RAS helps maintain consciousness and is active during awakening from sleep.
For example, we awaken to the sound of an alarm clock, to a flash of lightning, or
to a painful pinch be- cause of RAS activity that arouses the cerebral cortex.

Wakefulness is not a constant level of arousal but varies from maximum

alertness to drowsiness, depending on the extent of interaction between
peripheral stimuli and the brain
Different arousal and activity states are characterized by different
brain wave activity as recorded on an electroencephalogram
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Represent the momentary collective postsynaptic potential activity
(that is, excitatory postsynaptic potentials, or EPSPs, and inhibitory
postsynaptic potentials, or IPSPs) in the cell bodies and dendrites

Located in the cortical layers under the recording electrode

Electrical activity can always be recorded from the living brain, even
during sleep and unconscious states, but the waveforms vary depending
on the degree of activity in the cerebral cortex

Categories of brain waves, depending on the mental state

The higher the frequency of the brain waves, the faster the brain
activity
EEG Pattern
Wave EEG Pattern Activity
Gamma waves The fastest brain waves with the Peak concentration; the highest levels of
smallest amplitude cognition; and simultaneous processing
of information from different brain areas
Beta waves high frequency and low focused on your surroundings, actively
amplitude thinking, or engaged in conversation
Alpha waves lower frequency and greater Awake, but relaxed, calm, and not
amplitude than beta waves processing much information
Theta waves slower frequency and extremely relaxed, drowsy, or are in light
greater amplitude than alpha sleep
waves
delta waves greatest amplitude and slowest deep, dreamless sleep
frequency
The EEG has three major uses
• clinical tool in the diagnosis of
cerebral dysfunction
• legal determination of brain death
• distinguish various stages of sleep
Sleep and EEG patterns during sleep Sleep is an active process, not just the absence of wakefulness

The brain’s overall level of activity is not reduced during sleep

In a normal sleep cycle, you always pass through slow-wave sleep

before entering paradoxical sleep

On average, paradoxical sleep occupies 20% of total sleeping time

throughout adolescence and most of adulthood

Infants spend considerably more time in paradoxical sleep

In contrast, paradoxical and deep stage 4 slow-wave sleep

declines in the elderl
 Behavioral Patterns During Sleep
Slow-wave sleep
Still has considerable muscle
tone and often shifts body
position
Respiratory rate, heart rate, and
blood pressure remain regular
Eeasily awakened and rarely
dreams
The mental activity associated
with slow-wave sleep is less
visual than dreaming
Abrupt inhibition of muscle tone
throughout the body
The muscles are completely
relaxed, with no movement taking
place except in the eye muscles
Rapid eye movements (REM)
Paradoxical sleep
Heart rate and respiratory rate
become irregular, and blood
pressure may fluctuate
Dreaming
The sleep–wake cycle control
The sleep–wake cycle, and the various stages of sleep, result from the cyclic
interplay of three neural systems:

• A group of neurons in the hypothalamus secrete the excitatory neurotransmitter

hypocretin
• keep you awake and alert by stimulating the RAS
• They must be inhibited to induce sleep, as perhaps by IPSPs generated by input from the
sleep-on neurons
• The sleep-on neurons in the slow-wave sleep center in the hypothalamus appear
to be responsible for bringing on sleep
• by inhibiting the arousal-promoting neurons by releasing the inhibitory neurotransmitter
GABA
• The REM sleep-on neurons in the paradoxical sleep center in the brain stem
become very active during REM sleep
• turn off the sleep-on neurons and switch the sleep pattern from slow-wave sleep to REM
sleep
The sleep–wake cycle control (regulated by hormone)
Melatonin As darkness descends, Kortisol
the pineal gland releases
melatonin into the
bloodstream, inducing a
state of drowsiness and
preparing the body for
rest.
Melatonin secretion
ensures that our bodies
synchronize with the
natural cadence of day
and night.
Cortisol, often known as
the "stress hormone," is
produced by the adrenal
glands and plays a role in
the sleep-wake cycle.
ortisol levels naturally
follow a circadian rhythm,
peaking in the early
morning to help wake you
up and gradually
decreasing throughout
the day.
Thank You