Introduction
The brain is the most functional, complex, and most important part of the body. It is the core of awareness and also governs all involuntary and voluntary motion and body processes. The brain sends and receives information to and from all the body parts through the nervous system, which is a network of channels for the transmission of electrochemical signals. The nerves, nervous system, and brain all contribute to the biological underpinnings of psychological processes. Grasp the neurological system is critical for a broad understanding of psychology. The nervous system is responsible for our sensations of pleasure and pain, our emotions, our ability to learn and utilize language, and our ability to set objectives and other critical decisions that we make as an individual. The study of the brain and the nervous system is both the most interesting to students of psychology and medicine, even though sometimes other people can find the topic a little bit frustrating. Additionally, there are many technicalities associated with the study of the brain since it has many vocabularies associated with them.
The evolution of the nervous system during a human life
Human generations have grown through millions of years to have a brain and the nervous system to become very advanced and complex. When comparisons were made on the brain and the nervous system of other species such as Chimpanzees, the result from the study points that there exists a similarity between them (Barnholtz-Sloan, 2019), regarding brain development, the primary distinction amongst humans and other species is that human species have a far more expanded frontal cortex which is the front section of the brain cells which usually assist in planning. An individual’s nervous system is found to grow and develop even before childbirth. It starts as a basic bundle of tissue cells that form a tube and expands in a head-to-tail plane to establish the brain and the spinal cord. Studies reveal that at only 25 days of development, the embryo has already developed a different spinal code, the forebrain, the hindbrain, and the middle brain.
The Major structures and Functions of the brain
The brain performs several activities, including intellect, memory, creativity, and emotion. The brainstem, cerebellum, cerebrum comprise the brain, which would be encased inside the skull. The brain receives information through the five senses, including hearing, taste, touch, smell, and sight. The brain controls our emotions, legs, arms, speech movement, and other functions. The brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebrum comprise the brain.
Cerebellum
It is situated underneath the cerebrum. Its purpose is to maintain posture and balance by coordinating muscular actions. One of the brain structures located at the back of the brain is also connected to a range of other cognitive functions. As with the brain stem, the cerebellum organizes activities without requiring conscious knowledge.
The Brainstem
It represents the most basic structure of the brain, and it is located at the bottom of the brain and the top of the spine. Some research points that scientists believe could be found in the less evolved forms of life, such as crocodiles (Miller et al., 2021). The human body performs a variety of tasks, including heartbeat, digestion, and breathing. Surprisingly, the brain stem transmits the necessary signals to keep these processes working efficiently without conscious involvement.
The Cerebrum
Also called the cerebral cortex is often regarded as the most developed section of the brain. The Cerebral is subdivided into two distinct and adjacent sections comprising the left and the right hemispheres, which make up the top parts of the brain. They are responsible for the activities involved with increased awareness and volitional control, such as communication and planning, and also include our core sensory regions (like moving, feeling, hearing, and seeing) (Miller et al., 2021). The left and right hemispheres are connected by a network of fibrous tissue callosum, which transfers signals between them. Each hemisphere is in charge of the body’s opposing side. If a stroke happens in the right hemisphere, an individual may have weakness or paralysis in the left leg or arm. It is important to note that not every role is shared between the left and the right hemisphere parts of the brain. The left hemisphere is in charge of speech, understanding, mathematics, and writing. The right hemisphere is in order of imagination, spatial ability, creative and musical abilities (Miller et al., 2021). The left hemisphere dominates around 92 percent of people’s hand usage and language. The cerebral hemispheres are divided into lobes by different fissures. Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes: the frontal, the temporal, the parietal, and the occipital. Each lobe can be further subdivided into sections with very specialized functions. It is critical to recognize every lobe of the brain functions independently. The interactions between the brain’s lobes and between the two hemispheres are very complicated.
What are the differences between the central nervous system, the two branches autonomic system, and the Peripheral Nervous System?
The (CNS) Central Nervous System consists of the spinal cord and the brain. CNS is the word used to describe the section of the nerves enclosed in bone (the spinal column guards and protects the spinal code, and the skull is responsible for the protection of the brain). It is considered “central” since largely the spinal cord and the brain interprets sensory input. The information collected is then sent to the Peripheral nervous system for appropriate immediate action. It communicates primarily by delivering electrical impulses via the nerve fibers that comprise the nervous system’s essential building blocks, termed neurons. Research suggests an estimate of about 87 billion neurons in the brain that are in contact with other neurons named synapses (Barnholtz-Sloan, 2019). The axon, the soma, and the dendrites are the three primary components of a neuron. Neurons interact with one another through dendrites, which function as an antenna. When dendrites transmit this data to the body cell or the soma, an electrochemical signal is formed. Dendrites often transfer data through the dendrites part of the brain.
The Peripheral nervous system
The Peripheral nervous system refers to the part of the nervous system encompassing all the nerves that reside out of the central nervous system (CNS). The real job of the Peripheral nervous system is to link the CNS towards the skin, organs, and skin. These nerves stretch from the central nervous to the outermost portions of the body. It refers to a complicated nerve fibers system that runs throughout the body (Barnholtz-Sloan, 2019). It transmits vital messages that enable the organism to live. Certain signals sent by the Peripheral nervous system are associated with voluntary activities. When you wish to write notes to a colleague, you decide which letters to use in what sequence, and your brain delivers the right signals to your fingers. By contrast, some procedures are not voluntary. Without your knowledge, your mind is also transmitting instructions to your organs, digestive tract, and the tissues that are currently supporting you. All of this happens through the peripheral nervous system’s pathways.
The two branches of the autonomic system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that feeds blood vessels, the stomach, heart, bladder, pupils, lungs, kidney, liver, genitals, gut, perspiration, and salivary and digestive glands. The autonomic nervous system is composed of two distinct major divisions, which are Parasympathetic and Sympathetic. After getting data of the external environment and the body, the autonomic nervous system reacts by activating or inhibiting bodily activities, often through the sympathetic division. Two nerve cells make up an autonomic nerve route (Barnholtz-Sloan, 2019). The spinal cord and the brain stem have a single cell. It is related to the other cell by nerve fibers and is placed inside a group of nerve cells (named an autonomic ganglion). These ganglia’s nerve fibers link to interior organs. The sympathetic division’s majority of ganglia are positioned slightly outside the spine on both sides. The parasympathetic division’s ganglia are arranged near or inside the organs to which they link.
The process of Communication between Neurons
The neuron is considered the brain’s fundamental functional unit since it is responsible for information transmission throughout the body. Chemical transmitters and an electric activity referred to as action potentials are used to communicate between neurons. Between the neurons lies a synapse, a neuron’s junction, and is recognized as the location of impulse transmission from one neuron to another (Zareh et al., 2019). Thus, neurons communicate via both electrical and chemical signals; an action potential is generated whenever a nerve cell is activated, resulting in an electric current. This is carried along the axon to the synaptic junction. Whenever a nerve cell is activated, an action potential is generated, resulting in an electric current. This is carried along the axon to the synaptic junction (Stogsdill & Eroglu, 2017). The neuron that transmits the message is referred to as the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is the postsynaptic cell. The postsynaptic and presynaptic cells do not physically contact a chemical signal but are divided by a very small space called a synaptic cleft. The synaptic cleft is just 20 nanometers broad, indicating that it is very small (Barnholtz-Sloan, 2019). Electrical synapses are formed when one cell’s membrane connects directly through the membranes of another cell through a tiny series of holes called gap junctions. Gap junctions provide direct electrical communication between two cells, ensuring that when one cell’s membrane potential adjusts, the trans-membrane potential of those cells changes instantly.
The role of neurotransmitters concerning the behaviors they influence
Billions of chemicals called neurotransmitters are continually at work in our brains, regulating it all from our respiration to our circulation to our levels of learning and focus. Additionally, they can influence many psychological processes, including joy, pleasure, pleasure, and mood. The intersynaptic cleft contains molecules known as neurotransmitters that are launched due to action potentials (Miller et al., 2021). These molecules attach to receptors on postsynaptic neurons, activating the ions in the cell membranes of these neurons. The ions then pass through, providing a signaling mechanism between the neurons (Strandwitz, 2018). Neurotransmitter identification may be fairly challenging. While scientists can view the vesicles that contain neurotransmitters, determining which compounds are included inside the blisters is not as straightforward.
An acceptable example may be used to illustrate the influence of neurotransmitters on social cognition. Neurotransmitters either facilitate the passage of an impulse across a synapse inhibit the progression of inspiration across a synapse (inhibitory) (inhibitory) (Strandwitz, 2018). Neurotransmitters are influenced by agonists that enhance their impact and antagonists that diminish their effect. Consequently, interacting neurons may generate a wide range of products, resulting in a sophisticated repertory of behaviors. As a consequence, any assertion of causality and effect must be viewed skeptically. The neurotransmitters diffuse over the synaptic space and bind to specialized present on the layer of the postsynaptic membrane known as receptors. Receptors then enable charged ions to enter the postsynaptic cell, therefore altering the cell’s membrane potential. When a sufficient number of receptors are engaged, the membrane potential ultimately reaches a threshold value, at which point the postsynaptic cell generates its action potential.
Conclusion
In conclusion, researchers and psychological experts have pointed that the brain studies itself. This indicates that humans are exceptional in their ability to use our most complex organ to comprehend our most complex organ. The nervous system and the brain breakthroughs are examples of fascinating findings in psychology and medicine. In the future, research connecting brain activity to complicated, real-world attitudes and behaviors will aid in understanding human psychology and our ability to intervene more effectively to assist individuals.
Recommendation
For a healthy life and making the nervous system strong and healthy it is recommended for an individual to adopt practices such as doing exercises daily, walking barefoot for a while, exposing the body to sunlight, getting enough daily sleep, daily meditation, eating healthy foods and drinking tea as well as ensuring a balanced daily diet. Smoking or using any Tobacco or other drug products is greatly discouraged because drugs and substance use can result to brain and the nervous system complications as well as the general health of the body.
Bibliography
Barnholtz-Sloan, J. S. (2019). Brain and central nervous system tumor statistics: access to accurate data for all countries is critical!.
Miller, K. D., Ostrom, Q. T., Kruchko, C., Patil, N., Tihan, T., Cioffi, G., …& Barnholtz‐Sloan, J. S. (2021). Brain and other central nervous system tumor statistics, 2021. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 71(5), 381-406.
Stogsdill, J. A., & Eroglu, C. (2017). The interplay between neuronsand glia in synapse development and plasticity. Current opinion inneurobiology, 42, 1-8.
Strandwitz, P. (2018). Neurotransmitter modulation by the gut microbiota. Brain Research, 1693, 128-133.
Zareh, M., Manshaei, M. H., Adibi, M., &Montazeri, M. A. (2019).Neurons and astrocytes interaction in neuronal network: Agame-theoretic approach. Journal of theoretical biology, 470, 76-89.
write