10 functions of the central NERVOUS system

The functions of the central nervous system are the capture of information, the processing of information, the control of movement... At unProfesor we tell you.

He nervous system It plays a major role in virtually every aspect of our health and well-being. This is the system in charge of guide all the activities we do daily, such as waking up, breathing, thinking, reading, feeling emotions, remembering, etc. Understanding the nervous system is important, since it affects many areas of our body.

In this lesson from a TEACHER, we are going to explain in detail what are the functions of the central nervous system and what implication it has in our lives.

Before discovering the functions of the central nervous system, it is important that you understand what type of biological system it is. The nervous system is made up of two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

The central nervous system (CNS) is formed by the brain (which controls how we think, learn, move and feel) and

spinal cord (which carries messages from the brain to the nerves present in the body and vice versa).

Here we discover the parts of the central nervous system.

The central nervous system, as we mentioned above, is a fundamental part of the human nervous system and plays an essential role in coordinating the body's activities. The functions of the CNS are very diverse and essential for the survival and proper functioning of the organism as a whole. Do you want to know what the functions of the central nervous system are? We explain them to you!

Capture the information

The CNS receive sensory information of the entire body through the senses, such as sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. This information is processed and evaluated to determine the responses that our body must make. This is very important for decision making and generating effective responses.

For example:

• If our nose smells burnt, immediately the CNS will send information to our brain that it comes from the oven and has to do with the food we are cooking.

Process the information

The CNS processes the information given to it by the sensory receptors and compares it with the information it has stored from other experiences or learning through study. This allows us to recognize the patterns of situations we have already gone through and to be able to recover experiences from our past, to make decisions based on knowledge. Thinking, reasoning, and decision-making take place in the cerebrum, which is the largest part of the brain.

For example:

• When our body catches the burning smell that comes from the oven, it understands that the food is being overcooked. Either from past experiences or because you have studied how food should be cooked correctly.

Motion control

Another function of the central nervous system is that coordinates and controls the muscular activity of the body. This involves planning and executing voluntary movements, such as walking and talking, as well as involuntary reflexes, such as blinking.

For example:

• The CNS has received the burning smell and has discovered that the food is overcooking, so it activates our body to turn off the oven. If in the process, one of our fingers touches the hot tray, the CNS will automatically give orders to remove our skin from the heat source as quickly as possible.

Regulates involuntary functions

The CNS regulates involuntary functions of the body, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and breathing. This is achieved through the control centers that we have located in the brain stem and the hypothalamus. These centers regulate the responses of the involuntary nervous system, so that our body remains in internal balance.

Perception of external and internal stimuli

Another function of the central nervous system is that it is also responsible for capture a wide variety of sensory stimuli, such as pain, touch, temperature, etc. The brain interprets these sensory signals and converts them into conscious experiences, allowing us to interact with our environment effectively.

For example:

• If we try vanilla ice cream for the first time, our CNS is the one that will decide whether that experience produces pleasure or disgust.

Emotions and thoughts

The CNS generates and regulates emotions, in addition to carrying out a series of cognitive processes, such as thinking, memory, learning and decision making. Specific areas of the brain, such as the limbic system, play a very important role in regulating emotions.

For example:

• If we have met a friend at 6 in the afternoon and he shows up half an hour late, our CNS is the one that will decide if we get angry or decide to forgive him.

Sleep and wake control

The central nervous system controls sleep and wake cycles through structures such as the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus and brain stem. This ensures that we are awake and alert during the day and can rest at night.

Language and communication

The CNS is the responsible for language comprehension, allowing human beings to communicate with each other. Broca's area in the left cerebral hemisphere is associated with language production, while Wernicke's area is related to language comprehension.

Coordinates responses to stress

In situations of stress or danger, the CNS regulates the fight or flight response, preparing the body for threatening situations. The body does this through the release of hormones such as adrenaline.

For example:

• Have you noticed that when you cross the red crosswalk and a car whizzes past you? side, you reach the other extreme with your heart palpitations stronger than normal and your breathing uncontrolled? This is our body's alarm system!

homeostasis

Finally, we want to explain functions of the central nervous system: it maintains homeostasis, which is the internal balance of the body. It regulates body temperature, fluid balance, blood glucose concentration and other vital functions to ensure the body functions efficiently.

For example:

• When we are hot, our CNS instructs our body to sweat and take off our coats so that we can maintain a stable body temperature.

We hope this article has helped you understand the functions of the central nervous system. Discover here the dDifferences between the central and peripheral nervous system.