The nervous system of any human consists of two elements — central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS), with the brain and spinal cord being the two parts of CNS and nerves being a part of PNS. The primary function of these systems is to collect data from the body and generate appropriate motor output. This summary will review the role of the nervous system in cognition, affect, and behavior.
The general perception of the human nervous system is that it impacts only the vital functions, for example, breathing. However, it also affects how each individual behaves, their emotional response to events, and various cognitive functions. The nervous system’s two elements that enable the brain to collect information from the body and send signals to muscles are synapses and neurons (Stewart & Stillman, 2019). The latter are cells that receive sensory inputs from the outside world, and they help the CNS generate a behavioral response or collect information about what is happening. Synapses are sites where electronic nerve impulses are transmitted. These structures are linked to all three domains examined in this paper — behavior, cognition, and affect.
In terms of behavior, any action of a human being is perceived as a response to a sensory stimulus. These signals are transduced into nerve signals transmitted into ceratin areas of the CNS (Stewart & Stillman, 2019). Next, these systems generate motor actions, which, in essence, are human behavior. The structure of the nervous system that affects behavior is the frontal lobe, some functions of which include sexual and social behavior (Stewart & Stillman, 2019). The brain element responsible for cognition is the limbic system, which is also a crucial element that helps one’s memory (Stewart & Stillman, 2019). The hypothalamus, in particular, is one of the structures of the limbic system that helps activate the sympathetic nervous system. The latter’s function is in activating a person’s emotional response, which is how the CNS is connected to affect.
The structure that is the basis of human cognition in the brain, and more specifically, the hippocampus, which is responsible for converting information from short-term memory to long-term memory (Stewart & Stillman, 2019). Next, the amygdala plays a role in processing information and decision-making. However, the essential structure of the CNS involved in cognition is the neocortex. The function of the neocortex in relation to cognition is the regulation of sensory perceptions, cognition, and emotions (Stewart & Stillman, 2019). Memory and learning are among the four core functions of the nervous system since, according to Michigan Medicine, it allows one “to be conscious and have thoughts, memories, and language” (“Nervous system problems,” n.d.). Hence, through the PNS, the human body collects sensory information, affecting all three domains of cognition, affect, and behavior. Next, these signals are transmitted to the CNS through neurons and neuron junctions and different structures of the brain, such as the neocortex, amygdala, and hypothalamus.
These factors should be considered in para pharmacology and when studying human sexuality because the human nervous system is connected to one’s personality and how a person perceives information and uses it to function. Hence, by developing a medication that affects the brain, one can impact some of the essential CNS elements and affect one’s emotions or cognition. In terms of sexuality, the automatic nervous system is responsible for this part of human behavior. Therefore, some automatic responses and the impact of how the brain perceives information should be considered when conducting such studies. Overall, this paper focuses on the human nervous system and how it impacts cognition, affect, and behavior.
References
Nervous system problems. (n.d.). 2020, Web.
Stewart, D. & Stillman, B. W. (2019). Brains and behavior. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.