The reticular formation . A) sets the rate of respiratory movements
B) contains nuclei and centers that regulate vital autonomic nervous system functions
C) relays somatic information to the ventral posterior nuclei of the thalamus
D) regulates heart rate and force of contraction, and distribution of blood flow
E) relays information from the spinal cord, the red nuclei, other midbrain centers, and the cerebral cortex to the vermis of the cerebellum