locus coeruleus

E804585

The locus coeruleus is a small brainstem nucleus that is the primary source of norepinephrine in the brain and plays key roles in arousal, attention, and stress responses.

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Statements (54)

Predicate Object
instanceOf anatomical structure
brainstem nucleus
noradrenergic nucleus
activityCorrelatesWith level of alertness
activityIncreasesWith novel stimuli
stress
associatedWithDisease Alzheimer's disease NERFINISHED
Parkinson's disease NERFINISHED
anxiety disorders
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
major depressive disorder
bilaterallyPaired true
cellType noradrenergic neurons
containsPigment neuromelanin
degeneratesIn Alzheimer's disease
Parkinson's disease
developsFrom alar plate of the embryonic hindbrain
firingPattern phasic bursts
tonic activity
hasNeurotransmitter noradrenaline
norepinephrine
isPrimarySourceOf norepinephrine in the brain
locatedIn brainstem
pons
marker tyrosine hydroxylase expression
modulates sensory signal-to-noise ratio
synaptic plasticity
nameLanguage Latin
nameMeans blue spot
partOf ascending reticular activating system
central nervous system
playsRoleIn arousal
attention
autonomic regulation
cognitive control
memory modulation
pain modulation
sleep–wake regulation
stress response
vigilance
projectsTo amygdala
cerebellum
cerebral cortex
hippocampus
hypothalamus
spinal cord
thalamus NERFINISHED
receivesInputFrom hypothalamus
nucleus paragigantocellularis
periaqueductal gray NERFINISHED
prefrontal cortex
situatedDorsalTo rostral pons
situatedLateralTo fourth ventricle NERFINISHED
visibleAs bluish area in the pontine tegmentum

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Lewy bodies foundIn locus coeruleus