Jess is fast asleep, and her roommate Crystal is studying in the next room when their cat knocks a lamp off of the bookshelf. Crystal jumps up from her desk, but Jess remains asleep. What brain structure is responsible for raising or lowering the thresholds of conscious awareness, such that Crystal reacts to the stimulus while Jess does not?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The reticular formation is responsible for regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions, thus affecting the thresholds of conscious awareness. It helps in alerting Crystal to the noise while Jess remains asleep.

Jess Is Fast Asleep, and Her Roommate Crystal Is Studying