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What is the nervous system's functional anatomy? - Ten principles of nervous system function

9 important questions on What is the nervous system's functional anatomy? - Ten principles of nervous system function

Principle 1: The nervous system produces movement in a perceptual world the brain constructs.

Movements are related to sensations, memories and other factors. What we perceive are approximations of what is actually present.

Principle 2: Neuroplasticity is the hallmark of nervous system functioning.

Experience alter the brain's organization, and this neuroplasticity is needed for learning and memory. Forgetting is presumably due to a loss of the connections that represented the memory.

Principle 3: Many brain circuits are crossed.

Most brain inputs and outputs serve the opposite (contralateral) side of the body. Loads of neural connections link the brain's left and right sides, the most prominent connection being the corpus callosum. This principle is not true for olfactory sensation and the SNS, ANS and ENS connections.

Principle 5: The brain is symmetrical and asymmetrical.

The left and right hemispheres look like mirror images, but they have some dissimilar features. This asymmetry is essential for integrative tasks, language and body control. For instance, it prevents our hemispheres from both wanting to walk a different way. Language is left, spatial functions are right.

Principle 6: Brain systems are organized hierarchically and in parallel.

Visual information goes from the eyes into regions that detect the simplest properties, then to another region that determines more complex properties until at the most complex level it is understood. But also, one set of pathways process the colour and shape of a car, and at the same time other pathways process movements necessary to open the door.

Principle 7: Sensory and motor divisions permeate the nervous system

Spinal nerves are either sensory or motor and exist througout the nervous system.

Principle 8: The brain divides sensory input for object recognition and movement.

Sensory systems evolved first for influencing movement, not for recognizing things. This is only done in more evolved animals with more complex brains. Visual information goes either trough the ventral stream (object identification, more conscious) or the dorsal stream (guide movements relative to objects, more unconscious).

Principle 9: Brain functions are localized and distributed.

There are parts of the brain that have specific functions. However, the function is distributed over more neurons, so when some neurons are damaged, the remaining ones can continue carrying out the function. So functions are localized to specific areas but distributed within these areas. This means that when someone has complete damage to one area, this brings along more disabilities than small damage spread all over the brain.

Principle 10: The nervous system works by juxtaposing excitation and inhibition.

The brain not only makes movements (excitation) but prevents (inhibition) movements as well. When we pick up a glass of water, we pust prevent our arm from swaying too much.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Introduction to Brain and Behavior | 9781464139604 | Bryan Kolb, et al

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What is the nervous system's functional anatomy? - Ten principles of nervous system function

9 important questions on What is the nervous system's functional anatomy? - Ten principles of nervous system function

Principle 1: The nervous system produces movement in a perceptual world the brain constructs.

Principle 2: Neuroplasticity is the hallmark of nervous system functioning.

Principle 3: Many brain circuits are crossed.

Principle 5: The brain is symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Principle 6: Brain systems are organized hierarchically and in parallel.

Principle 7: Sensory and motor divisions permeate the nervous system

Principle 8: The brain divides sensory input for object recognition and movement.

Principle 9: Brain functions are localized and distributed.

Principle 10: The nervous system works by juxtaposing excitation and inhibition.

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