The ARAS is the ascending reticular activating system plays a role in the activation of the cerebral cortex.
There are two routes of activation use neurotransmitters: glutamate, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine.
(1): Dorsal Route: goes to thalamus- projecting excitatory influences to the neocortex; allows us to achieve sensory integration
(2): Ventral Route: goes to neurons (in the posterior hypothalamus) active during wake- histamine is activated; also goes to the basal forebrain that uses acetylcholine for excitation
Locus Coeruleus uses norepinephrine to activate forebrain; regulation of attention
Raphe nuclei uses serotonin to activate the forebrain
Group Members: MK Beshears, Kendall Johnson, Genesis Turner, David Higginbotham, Taylor Romans, Jakob Zito