Chapter 18

Functions of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Sensation typically is the process by which the sensory receptors and sense organs detect stimuli from the internal and external environment and…

Sensory receptors are vital in our ability to perceive and interpret the world. Sensory receptors are specialized cells in the peripheral nervous…

The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and…

Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and…

Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior…

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These…

The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the…

The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They…

A reflex activity is an automatic, involuntary response to specific stimuli. It is a part of our survival mechanism, designed to protect us from…

Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord. One…

Brain waves are electrical signals generated by the neurons in the brain, which are regularly monitored to measure mental activities. Brain waves and…

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in…

Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain…

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both…

The Evoked Potential Operant Conditioning System (EPOCS) is a software tool that implements protocols for operantly conditioning stimulus-triggered…

Recording of the epidural electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) in small animals, like mice and rats, has been pivotal to study the…

Introducing proteins of interest into cells in the nervous system is challenging due to innate biological barriers that limit access to most…