The nervous system controls everything from our thoughts and emotions to our movements and reflexes—but it’s made up of two major parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).| Simply Psychology
This article outlines recommended first-line treatments for managing generalized anxiety disorder across psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and self-help approaches.| Simply Psychology
The somatic nervous system (SNS) is the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movement and processes external stimuli through two types of neurons: motor neurons (activating muscles) and sensory neurons (relaying information to the central nervous system).| Simply Psychology
The brainstem is the stalk-like lower part of the brain that connects the main brain (cerebrum) to the spinal cord. It sits at the base of the skull, just above the spinal cord, and is considered part of the central nervous system (CNS).| Simply Psychology
The human brain is a complex organ, made up of several distinct parts, each responsible for different functions. The cerebrum, the largest part, is responsible for sensory interpretation, thought processing, and voluntary muscle activity. Beneath it is the cerebellum, which controls balance and coordination. The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and oversees automatic processes like breathing and heart rate. The limbic system, containing structures like the hippocampus and amygd...| Simply Psychology
Think of neurotransmitters as instant messages between nerve cells: fast, direct, and short-lived. Hormones, on the other hand, are more like letters sent through the mail—slower, but able to travel long distances in the body and create lasting effects.| Simply Psychology
Sensory neurons carry incoming information from the sensory receptors of the body toward the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), whereas motor neurons carry outgoing commands away from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.| Simply Psychology
Declarative memory, also known as explicit memory, is a type of long-term memory that involves conscious recall. It's divided into two categories: semantic memory for facts and general knowledge, and episodic memory for personal experiences and specific events.| Simply Psychology
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is critical for connecting the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body. It is essential for bodily functions such as movement, sensation, and autonomic processes.| Simply Psychology
Spinal nerves are peripheral nerves that emerge from the spinal cord and carry motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the rest of the body. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal, named according to their corresponding vertebral levels.| Simply Psychology
The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain, composed of folded gray matter. It plays a crucial role in various complex cognitive processes including thought, perception, language, memory, attention, consciousness, and advanced motor functions.| Simply Psychology
In psychology, the hippocampus is a crucial structure within the brain's medial temporal lobe. It plays a vital role in forming and retrieving memories, spatial navigation, and emotional responses. Damage to the hippocampus can lead to memory impairments and difficulty forming new memories, highlighting its importance in learning and cognition.| Simply Psychology
The cerebellum, located at the base of the brain, is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements, maintaining posture, balance, and equilibrium, as well as refining motor movements to be smooth and precise. It also plays a role in some cognitive functions, such as attention and language processing.| Simply Psychology
Schwann cells are a special type of cell found in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). They play a key role in helping nerves work efficiently by wrapping around nerve fibers and forming a protective layer called the myelin sheath.| Simply Psychology
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that play a vital role in how your brain and body communicate. They affect everything from your mood and memory to your heartbeat and breathing.| Simply Psychology
Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain through pre-natal development and as adults. This phenomenon primarily occurs in the hippocampus playing a crucial role in learning, memory, and cognitive flexibility. Factors like exercise, enriched environments, and certain drugs can promote neurogenesis, while stress and aging may inhibit it.| Simply Psychology
Motor neurons are nerve cells that carry messages from the brain and spinal cord to your muscles and glands. They control everything from blinking and walking to breathing and digestion.| Simply Psychology
Glial cells, also called glial cells or neuroglia, are cell which are non-neuronal and are located within the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport.| Simply Psychology
The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord. It acts as the body's control center, processing sensory information and directing responses. The CNS coordinates both voluntary activities, like movement, and involuntary ones, such as breathing and heartbeat.| Simply Psychology
The sympathetic nervous system is a branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for "fight or flight" responses during stressful situations. It increases heart rate, dilates pupils, and inhibits digestion, among other functions, to mobilize the body's resources for immediate action.| Simply Psychology
The parasympathetic nervous system is a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates bodily functions outside of voluntary control, therefore being automatic. It is also called the ‘rest and digest' system as it conserves the body’s natural activity and relaxes the individual once an emergency has passed. It promotes relaxation, energy conservation, and recovery by slowing the heart rate, stimulating digestion, and facilitating other processes when the body is restin...| Simply Psychology
The limbic system is a complex set of brain structures involved in emotion, motivation, memory, and behavior regulation. Key components include the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus. It's central to emotional processing, memory formation, and various autonomic functions, bridging higher cognitive processes and primal emotions.| Simply Psychology
Social Learning Theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, posits that people learn through observing, imitating, and modeling others' behavior. This theory posits that we can acquire new behaviors and knowledge by watching others, a process known as vicarious learning.| Simply Psychology
Fear is a basic, emotional response to a perceived threat or danger. It triggers the body's 'fight-or-flight' response, leading to physiological changes like increased heart rate and adrenaline levels. Fear is an essential survival mechanism, helping individuals react to potentially life-threatening situations. It can respond to immediate, tangible threats and more abstract or future concerns. Fear can also be learned through past experiences or observations.| Simply Psychology