Differentiation as a concept should be distinguished from the concept of diversity. Diversity is a term indicating the variety of entities within a system. While differentiation denotes a dynamic process, diversity refers to a static situation. Differentiation is the process in which new entities in a system emerge; diversity refers to the variety of the entities at a specific point in time (Huisman, 1995, p. 51). The framework to be presented will be directed to differentiation and diversity of
The reticular formation (lat. formatio reticularis) is a set of interconnected nuclei that are located throughout the brainstem. The reticular formation is not anatomically well defined because it includes neurons located in diverse parts of the brain.The neurons of the reticular formation all play a crucial role in maintaining behavioral arousal and consciousness. The functions of the reticular formation are modulatory and premotor.The modulatory functions are primarily found in the rostral sector of the reticular formation and the premotor functions are localized in the neurons in more caudal regions.he medial reticular formation and lateral reticular formation are two columns of neuronal nuclei with ill-defined boundaries that send projections through the medulla and into the mesencephalon (midbrain). The nuclei can be differentiated by function, cell type, and projections of efferent or afferent nerves.
reticular activating system. n. Abbr. RAS. The part of the reticular formation in the brainstem that plays a central role in bodily and behavioral alertness; its ascending connections affect the function of the cerebral cortex and its descending connections affect bodily posture and reflex mechanisms.