Organisation of the nervous system

• What is the nervous system?

  Network of nerves and other cells and it is the main internal communication system
• How does the nervous system communicate?

  Electrical signals and chemical signals ( Neurotransmitters )
• What is the role of the nervous system?

  Collecting, processing and responding to information from the environment
• What is the CNS made of?

  Brain and the spinal cord
• What is the role of the brain?

  Decision making and conscious awareness
• What is contralateral control?

  The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and vis versa
• What is the brain split into?


  2 hemispheres
• What is the brain covered in and what happens here?

  The cortex which is 3mm thick

  Very developed

  Higher localised functions happen here like problem solving
• What is one of the structures that keep the hemispheres connected?

  corpus callosum
• What does the brain stem do?

  connects the brain and the spinal cord together and controls our basic functions like breathing
• Where is the spinal cord?

  Runs down the middle of the spine like a cable
• What is the role of the spinal cord?

  Controls reflex actions - pulling hand away from something hot

  Also passes signals between the brain and the body via the autonomic nervous system
• What is the autonomic nervous system?


  collection of nerves that sends and receives signals between the spinal cord to the body
• How does the ANS operate?


  Automatically
• What functions does the ANS control?

  One for survival and ones that don't need conscious awareness like breathing
• What are the 2 divisions of the ANS?

  Sympathetic

  Parasympathetic
• What is the role of the sympathetic divisions?

  Activate body's arousal like increasing heart and breathing rates - fight or flight

  This is in times of stress
• What is the role of the parasympathetic division?

  It brings the body back down after stress has gone - rest and digest

  Lowers heart rate and breathing rate
• What are the strengths of the organisations of the nervous system?

  Real world applications - anxiety before performing is caused by the ANS the sympathetic division causes shaking hands and shaky voice - Drugs can be used to lower the activity of the sympathetic division - reduces anxiety and stress

  Has supported research - Damages to parts of the nervous system - damages to ANS cause difficulties with stress - this can help us build a map of the organisation and functions of the parts of the nervous system
• What is the weakness?


  NS does not operate on its own - Linked with endocrine - fight or flight - brains perception of danger - endocrine produces hormones - NS is incomplete with our the endocrine system