This means that the nervous system has a unique pattern of activity in itfor each behavior you do, each mental process you produce, and eachexperience you have. "Mental" illness, personality, learning, memory,perception, etc. all appear to reflect specific patterns of activity in thenervous system. Therefore, many psychologists believe that the study ofthe nervous system is very useful for understanding psychologicalprocesses. More and more of them in all areas of psychology have started including studies of the nervous system in their work. Link to a brief history of this idea.

This exercise describes the peripheral nervous system (PNS) [peripheral=away from center; edge]. Thefollowing exercises(asgn1c, d, e) deal with the central nervous system. The PNS carries informationfrom the senses to the central nervous system (CNS) and from the CNS to the muscles and glands. ThePNS has two parts: the externally directed somatic system and the internally directed autonomicsystem. The autonomic nervous system has opposing two parts: The sympathetic division, which isespecially active during emergency situations, and the parasympathetic nervous system, whichcontrols the body’s “housekeeping.” When you finish this exercise, you should be able to explain how information comes into the CNS fromthe senses and how it leaves the CNS to control muscles and glands. You should be able to explainhow the brain controls the internal environment of the body through the autonomic nervous system.