Brief Overview Of Nervous System Activities

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Overview Of Nervous System

Embracing an overview of Nervous System activities provides insights into Human behavior, and helps to lay a solid foundation for a successful Personal Development plan.

To kick off this short overview of Nervous System activities, we can start by identifying the various components and the role they play as we go about life.

Comprehending how our nervous system functions, both the voluntarily and involuntarily elements, makes it easier to respond to and influence our moods and behavior for our own benefit.

At the same time, a thorough understanding of the Human nervous system is an indispensable aid when dealing with our fellows and their sometimes, nay not sometimes, but often, seemingly inexplicably confounding attitudes and behavior.

One  Nervous System

We Possess One Nervous System comprising the following components, that, in alliance with it's major partner component, the Brain, is capable of working in complete Harmony for the benefit of it's owner.

As that owner, and director, of one's voluntary nervous system, the individual is entirely responsible for it's state of upkeep. Hence the necessity for taking charge if we are to make progress with developing our mind.

Image - Persian Poet Gal - Public Domain - Via WikiMedia Commons

Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

The Central Nervous System is composed of the Brain and Spinal cord. All the Nerves external to the Brain and Spinal Cord are considered to belong to the Peripheral Nervous System, which extends to the rest of the Body.

By forming a vast network of Nervous connections to and from the Brain to all components of the Physique, the Central Nervous System manages the Body via the Peripheral Nervous System.

Both the Voluntary and Involuntary systems are incorporated, and their functions are executed, within this network.

Although it is considered to be one entity, the Human Nervous System can be divided into two distinct modes of operation, as follows below.

Involuntary and Voluntary Nervous Systems

Involuntary Nervous System

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As it's name suggests, the Involuntary System (Autonomic Nervous System) is entirely automatic.

Although it is known it is possible for an individual to gain Conscious control over Heart Beat, via biofeedback, and Consciously influence some other functions, as evidenced by a few extreme feats in extreme sports, it is not possible to Consciously override the Autonomic Nervous System and take complete control.

Most of us would agree this is a responsibly we would prefer not to have to shoulder.

But there is much we can do to alleviate the stress modern living places on our Involuntary Nervous System, by taking charge of our Voluntary Nervous System.

The Involuntary Nervous System is divided into two subsystems, known respectively as the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The Sympathetic Nervous System prepares the Body for Fight or Flight in response to perceived threats. Whether real or imagined, matters not. It sallies forth and achieves this readiness via Chemical and Electrical signals, with some grim results, including:

• Elevating Heartbeat and Blood Pressure way above normal.

• Suppression of the Immune System.

• Shutting down the Digestive System.

• Increasing Blood flow to the Body Muscles by reducing the flow to the Inner Organs and Skin.

• Releasing Glucose from the Liver into the Bloodstream in expectation of extreme activity.

• Increasing Dilation of the Pupils to allow excess Light in, and often, some form of Sweating.

Apart from increased Heart Beat from genuine exercise, and Sweating, all these conditions are disruptive to Homeostasis and detrimental to Health. Particularly long term Health, if the sympathetic response is permitted to persist.

 Parasympathetic (Voluntary Nervous System)

The Sympathetic System's counterpart, the Parasympathetic, works quietly and unobtrusively in the background to Maintain, Repair, Relax, and Balance the Body's requirements when the Sympathetic is not activated.

 In Modern Society our Parasympathetic Nervous System can endure an unnecessarily heavy workload. But, thankfully, by learning and applying the skills offered within Personal Development there is much we can do to reduce this inordinate burden.

Taking Charge

The Voluntary System is the most important aspect of our overview of Nervous System functions, in relation to Personal Development.

This is the element of our Nervous make-up that permits influence over our Conscious physical activities, our Emotions, and our Thought. And it is, not surprisingly, the instrument used for Personal Development.

Personal Development embodies nothing less than taking complete charge of, and responsibility for, this Voluntary System. One of the many benefits of taking charge is being able to beneficially influence your Autonomic Nervous System. In turn,beneficially influencing your Autonomic Nervous System encourages sound psychological and physical health. An essential requirement in the process of liberating your mind power.

A definite realization, and belief that this responsibility of taking charge can be achieved, and maintained, underpins all progress one makes on his or her journey to enlightenment. In essence you are on the path of taking charge of your Thoughts, and hence Mind. Somewhere along this journey you will conclude that Thought powers your mind.

Hopefully, this brief overview of Nervous System functions has whet your appetite to learn more about how you tick.

The Human Nervous System Rocks!

Part 6 - Part 5

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