Did you know that the sensations received through the sensory organs must be processed and analyzed, and the cranial nerves are responsible for these processes? The structures are unique because they connect organs and muscle fibers to the cortical layer, bypassing the spinal cord. For them, there are even special ‘moves’ at the bottom of the skull box (Saladin et al., 2021). To better understand the functions and mechanism of the flow of electrical impulses, it is important to know how many pairs of cranial nerves and their other characteristics. For example, their location, purpose, and, most interestingly, as it seemed to me, their connection. I found it interesting that cranial nerve injuries often occur complexly, mainly if a person receives head injuries in the region of the trunk and jugular fossa. Specific symptoms diagnose the dysfunction of individual couples, and each pair has its separate ways of identifying problems or diseases.
I found a research article that states that there is a link between cranial nerves and behavioral and cognitive research. Since nerves signify brain function, invasive and non-invasive methods of electrical cranial nerve stimulation have clinical applications in mental development. The cranial nerves are unique neuromodulation targets with high specificity and minimally invasive deep brain stimulation (Adair et al., 2020). Stimulation of the cranial nerves activates specific brain circuits associated with critical thinking, hearing, vision, information processing, and more (What are the 12 cranial nerves? 2022). The study of the cognitive direction in examining the brain is significant; this is also noted in the post. Based on the patient’s behavior analysis and his description of complaints, many conclusions can be drawn regarding his health. As you know, scientists usually research if the brain’s normal functioning is disturbed and thus receive new information. It is the diagnosis and assessment of the condition of the cranial nerves that can save the patient’s life.
References
Adair, D., Truong, D., Esmaeilpour, Z., Gebodh, N., Borges, H., Ho, L., Bremner, J. D., Badran, B. W., Napadow, V., Clark, V. P., & Bikson, M. (2020). Electrical stimulation of cranial nerves in cognition and disease. Brain Stimulation, 13(3), 717–750.
Saladin, K. S., Gan, C. A., & Cushman, H. N. (2021). Anatomy & physiology: The unity of form and function. McGraw-Hill Education.
What are the 12 cranial nerves? Functions and diagram. Medical News Today. (2022).