The human body’s systems operate interdependently, and all physical feelings, brain-developed memories, thoughts, strategic actions, and other capacities lead to the nerves’ instant reaction. Sousa et al. (2017) state that “even though the way our brain is built is not exceptional, we differ by a unique combination of mental abilities, combined with higher general intelligence” (p. 243). This paper aims to describe how human capacities are associated with nervous system activities and structures and discuss what damage might affect them.
The nervous system is responsible for the cognitive abilities development of those helped humans make a leap in evolution and become the most sentient species. The central part of the system is located in the brain and spinal cord, and all reactions appear there, while the peripheral one operates all over the body to deliver the signals to the organs (Rathus, 2020). As the nervous system’s general role is to recognize changes and force organs to react to them, human sensations, actions, and thoughts would not work without proper systems’ operation (Rathus, 2020). Moreover, the nervous system has three main functions: motor, sensory, and integration, all connected with human capacities (Sousa et al., 2017). The first collects information from the receptors, the second process the sensory-given data in the central nervous system, and the last one enables efferent neurons to respond in action (Sousa et al., 2017). For example, when the brain recognizes the gut’s hunger sensation, it makes nerves react to force an individual to crave food.
If a particular type of damage affects the brain and nervous system, severe consequences can appear for other organs and systems because the whole body is dependent on the nerves’ functioning. Various infections, chronic diseases, and injuries can severely influence the system, and the disorders like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and stroke are considered the most dangerous (Liberman et al., 2018). Indeed, when a stroke occurs, it injures the brain’s nerve cells, making them unable to communicate with other organs. In Alzheimer’s, nervous networking is disrupted, and the lost connection affects individual cognitive abilities.
Brain and nervous system development moved humans to the edge of evolution, and individuals’ cognitive abilities help them thrive. Nerves are crucial for organs’ communication and responsible for the reactions of external circumstances. Human thoughts, actions, memories, and sensations appear due to the nervous system’s work that forces the brain cells to coordinate with other parts. The nervous system can be damaged due to the diseases like stroke or Alzheimer’s, severely affecting human cognitive abilities.
References
Liberman, A. C., Trias, E., da Silva Chagas, L., Trindade, P., dos Santos Pereira, M., Refojo, D., & Serfaty, C. A. (2018). Neuroimmune and inflammatory signals in complex disorders of the central nervous system. Neuroimmunomodulation, 25(5-6), 246-270. Web.
Sousa, A. M., Meyer, K. A., Santpere, G., Gulden, F. O., & Sestan, N. (2017). Evolution of the human nervous system function, structure, and development. Cell, 170(2), 226-247. Web.
Rathus, S.A. (2020). PSYCH introductory psychology (6th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.