Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Information: Reticular Activating System

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Reticular Activating System: ADD ADHD

This Reticular Activating System is very capable of generating dynamic effects on the activity of the cortex, including the frontal lobes, and the motor activity centers of the brain. It plays a significant role in determining whether a person can learn and remember things well or not, on whether or not a person is impulsive or self-controlled, on whether or not a person has high or low motor activity levels, and on whether or not a person is highly motivated or bored easily.

The Reticular Activating System is the center of balance for the other systems involved in learning, self-control or inhibition, and motivation. When functioning normally, the reticular activating system provides the neural connections that are needed for the processing and learning of information, and the ability to pay attention to the correct task. 

If the Reticular Activating System doesn't excite the neurons of the cortex as much as it ought to, then we see the results of an under aroused cortex, such as difficulty learning, poor memory, little self-control, and so on. In fact, if the Reticular Activating System failed to activate the cortex at all one would see a lack of consciousness or even coma. 

What would happen if the Reticular Activating System was too excited, and aroused the cortex or other systems of the brain too much? Then we would probably see the individuals with the excessive startle response, hyper-vigilant, touching everything, talking too much, restless and hyperactive.

So the Reticular Activating System must be activated to normal levels for the rest of the brain to function as it should. 

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