Reticular Formation

The reticular formation also has both sensory and motor functions. The main sensory function of the reticular formation is alerting the cerebral cortex of incoming sensory signals. Within the reticular formation is the reticular activating system (RAS). The RAS is responsible for keeping consciousness and for waking up from sleep. Some of the response signals to wake up come from the eyes, ears, and skin. For example, we wake up to the sound of our alarm clocks, or the flash of lighting.