Nervous System Functions

Overview

• The nervous system allows a person to experience life, create behavior, and perform necessary bodily functions.
• Functions can be divided into two main categories:
  • Basic Functions
  • Higher Functions

Basic Functions

• Performed by: Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) and Peripheral Nervous System (nerves).
• Subcategories:
  • Motor Functions
    • Control of skeletal muscle.
    • Result in movement, tone, and posture.
  • Sensory Functions
    • Involves detection of all senses.
    • More than five senses:
      • Vision, hearing, smell, taste.
      • Vestibular sense (inner ear).
      • Somatosensation: touch, body position, vibration, pain, temperature, etc.
  • Automatic Functions
    • Do not require conscious involvement.
    • Includes reflexes and control of body systems like circulation, respiration, digestion.

Higher Functions

• Performed by: Parts of the brain.
• Subcategories:
  • Cognition
    • Refers to thinking functions.
    • Includes learning, memory, language, executive functions (goal creation and behavior organization).
  • Emotions
    • Feelings, but also play a major role in life experience and body functions.
  • Consciousness
    • Related to awareness of being a person, experiencing life, and controlling actions.
    • Least understood function; subject of ongoing research.

Syndromes

• Dysfunction in nervous system parts causes patterns of abnormalities, called syndromes.
• Syndromes often result from frequent neurological or psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion

• Various systems exist to categorize nervous system functions.
• Importance lies in finding a system that makes sense for understanding and tracking these functions.