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

1 of 15

Showing 15 synonym(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 15 synonym(s)

Name:

formación reticular mesencefálica

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

MRF

Language:

acronym

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

mezencephale Formatio reticularis

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

midbrain reticular formation

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

midbrain reticular formation

Language:

English

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Martin-1997

Citation:

Primate Information Center, University of Washington, Seattle, 1997.

Source Title:

Template Atlas of the Primate Brain

Name:

Formatio reticularis mesencephali

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Name:

Substantia reticularis mesencephali

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca mulatta

Source:

Olszewski-1952

Citation:

S. Karger, Basel, Switzerland, 1952

Source Title:

The Thalamus Of The Macaca mulatta: An Atlas For Use With The Stereotaxic Instrument

Name:

reticular formation of midbrain

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

Formatio reticularis tegmenti mesencephali

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Shantha-1968

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1968

Source Title:

A Stereotaxic Atlas Of The Java Monkey Brain (Macaca irus)

Name:

Formatio reticularis tegmentalis

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Roberts-1970

Citation:

Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1970

Source Title:

Atlas Of The Human Brain In Section

Name:

tegmental reticular formation

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Roberts-1970

Citation:

Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1970

Source Title:

Atlas Of The Human Brain In Section

Name:

Formatio reticularis des Mittelhirns

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-2002

Citation:

Zentrum für Anatomie und Hirnforschung, Institut für Neuroanatomie Heinrich Heine Universität, Düsseldorf, Deutschland

Source Title:

Name:

formazione reticolare mesencefalica

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

MBRF

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Name:

ретикулярная формация среднего мозга

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Citation:

AREA XVII, Moscow, 1996.

Source Title:

Stereoskopicheskii Atlas Mozga Cheloveka

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

1 of 7

Showing 7 record(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 7 record(s)

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Formatio reticularis tegmentalis

Source:

Roberts-1970

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

midbrain reticular formation

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

reticular formation of midbrain

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

tegmental reticular formation

Source:

Roberts-1970

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

Their Name:

Formatio reticularis tegmenti mesencephali

Source:

Shantha-1968

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

Their Name:

midbrain reticular formation

Source:

Martin-1997

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Macaca mulatta (Macaca mulatta)

Their Name:

Substantia reticularis mesencephali

Source:

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