Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

What can result from damage to the RAS and the cerebral cortex?

1. Ataxia

2. Blindness

3. Loss of consciousness

4. Speech difficulties

The correct answer is: Loss of consciousness

Damage to the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and the cerebral cortex can lead to a significant impairment in consciousness. The RAS plays a crucial role in regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions, serving as a filter for sensory input and helping to maintain a state of alertness. When this system is compromised, it can disrupt the brain's ability to maintain consciousness, leading to conditions such as stupor or coma. The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions, including perception, thought processes, and voluntary muscle movements. When both the RAS and the cerebral cortex are injured, the overall function of the brain in maintaining awareness and the ability to respond to the environment can be severely affected. This combined damage can culminate in a loss of consciousness, as the brain cannot adequately process sensory information or maintain alertness. Other symptoms, such as ataxia (lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements), blindness (vision loss), or speech difficulties, might arise from damage to different areas of the brain or the peripheral nervous system but are not directly indicative of the impact on consciousness as is the case with RAS and cortex damage. Therefore, loss of consciousness serves as a direct and critical consequence of such neurological impairment.