Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-27gpq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T15:26:08.396Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

6 - Arousal

from Section I - Structural and Functional Neuroanatomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2013

David B. Arciniegas
Affiliation:
University of Colorado, School of Medicine
C. Alan Anderson
Affiliation:
University of Colorado, School of Medicine
Christopher M. Filley
Affiliation:
University of Colorado, School of Medicine
Get access

Summary

The arousal system involves multiple distributed neural networks working in harmony to permit normal sleep-wake cycles, satisfy internal drive states, and respond to environmental demands. Disorders of arousal involve pathology of the brainstem, thalamus, or widespread areas of both cerebral hemispheres. A parallel series of distinct neural networks using dopamine, histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine as neurotransmitters originates in the brainstem. Brain death represents the most severe disturbance of arousal, with total and irreversible cessation of any brain function. Coma is the state of neurological unconsciousness exhibited by unarousable unawareness of the external environment that is due to extensive damage to or depressed function of both cerebral hemispheres, bilateral diencephalic structures, or the ascending reticular activating system. A specific rehabilitative strategy is coma stimulation, in which structured sensory stimulation is administered for the purposes of improving sensory awareness and facilitating improvements in arousal and awareness.
Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×