Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.
Definition
The central nervous system receives, processes and integrates information and coordinates the body's responses. The brain is responsible for, among others: for cognition, emotions, memory, movement and regulation of many life functions, and the spinal cord transmits signals between the brain and the body and participates in reflexes. It is worth avoiding simply dividing a person into "brain" and "rest", because the body and nervous system work as a connected system.
Key ideas
- Brain and spinal cord
- Information processing
- Body and behavior regulation
Practice and life
When learning about emotions or stress, always write down two levels: what is happening in your thoughts and what is happening in your body.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to treat the central nervous system as a lonely command center detached from the body. The second mistake is to attribute complex behaviors to a single brain structure.
> The nervous system does not command life from a distance; he is constantly talking to the whole body.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- How does my body signal changes in the state of my nervous system?
- Am I including both the brain and the body?
- How can I lower my arousal before I make a decision?