Overview of the Nervous System. Psychology

Nervous System

• Central Nervous System (CNS)
• Brain
• Interprets information received
• Issues orders to organs
• Spinal Cord
• Pathway from brain to PNS
• Contains the reflex arc
• Contains afferent, efferent and interneurons
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• Autonomic Nervous System
• Involuntary and automatic functions
• Regulates glands, organs, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, dilation of blood vessels and pupils, etc.
• Parasympathetic Division
• Maintains normal function; energy efficient
• Sympathetic Division
• Fight-or-flight reaction to stress
• Somatic Nervous System
• Voluntary functions
• Skeletal muscle movement
• Sensory System (afferent)
• Messages from senses to CNS
• Motor System (efferent)
• Messages from CNS to muscles and glands