midbrain reticular formation

midbrain reticular formation (MBRF)

The term midbrain reticular formation (MBRF) refers to two histologically defined nuclei in the midbrain (MBR) of the human ( Carpenter-1983 ), macaque ( Olszewski-1952 ), rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and mouse ( AMBA-2024 ): the cuneiform nucleus (CNN ), which is more rostral and the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), which as its name suggests, is on the boundary between the midbrain (MBR) and the pons (PON). Activation of the MBRF triggers the orienting response ( Vinogradova-2001 ) of the interrupt control system ( Bowden-2021 ). Updated 5 Nov 2025.

Also known as: midbrain reticular formation, Formatio reticularis mesencephali, Substantia reticularis mesencephali, reticular formation of midbrain, Formatio reticularis tegmenti mesencephali, Formatio reticularis tegmentalis, tegmental reticular formation

NeuroNames ID: 501

All Names & Sources

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English

midbrain reticular formation

Carpenter-1983

English

midbrain reticular formation

Martin-1997

English

reticular formation of midbrain

Carpenter-1983

English

tegmental reticular formation

Roberts-1970

Illustrations

Showing 2 illustration(s)

labeled line drawings of
sagittal section in
Macaca fascicularis

multiple views of
3D reconstruction in
Macaca mulatta

Species With The Structure

Equivalent By	Human	Macaque	Rat	Mouse
Internal Structure	Has The Structure	Has The Structure	Relevant Data Not Located	Relevant Data Not Located

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Basis

Has Equivalent

Organism

Their Name

Source

Internal Structure

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

Formatio reticularis tegmentalis

Roberts-1970

Internal Structure

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

midbrain reticular formation

Carpenter-1983

Internal Structure

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

reticular formation of midbrain

Carpenter-1983

Internal Structure

Yes

Homo sapiens (human)

tegmental reticular formation

Roberts-1970

Internal Structure

Yes

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

Formatio reticularis tegmenti mesencephali

Shantha-1968

Internal Structure

Yes

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

midbrain reticular formation

Martin-1997

Internal Structure

Yes

Macaca mulatta (Macaca mulatta)

Substantia reticularis mesencephali

Olszewski-1952

Models Where It Appears

Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

cerebral crus (crus cerebri)

hindbrain

choroidal fissure