Neuroscience

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Basics of The Nervous System

KEY QUESTIONS:

What is the nervous system?

What are the main parts of the nervous system?

How does each part communicate with each other?

What are the main functions of the nervous system?

The nervous system: Made up of the central (brain/spinal cord) and peripheral (nerves) systems, it transmits sensations and information between different parts of the body. Nerves and neurons transmit signals between the different parts for three main functions- sensory, integration, and motor.

Functions

sensory- receiving information about the environment. things in an environment are known as stimulus.

integration- receiving information and making automatic responses.

Motor- making our body respond to whatever stimulus we see, and making conscious movements.

Communication

Through chemical and electrical impulses, the nervous system communicates with itself. These signals travel through neurons.

Sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous systems transmit information about stimulus from the environment to the central nervous system for it to process. From there, the central nervous system will send details on what to do with this information.

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Neurons

KEY QUESTIONS:

What do neurons do?

What does a neuron look like?

What does each part of a neuron do?

How do neurons transmit information?