Nervous System

The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and fibers which transmit

signals from one part of the body to another. It could be thought of as an

electrical circuitry of the body.

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In conjunction with the endocrine system, our nervous system controls any

activity occurring within the body such as voluntary movement, reflexes, and

regulation of body temperature.

The nervous system is broken down into several different components

starting at with the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.

The brain and spinal cord are part of the central nervous system, while the

peripheral nervous system contains nerves that branch out from the brain
and spinal cord to other areas of the body, such as muscles and organs.

The Central Nervous System (Represented in Pink) and

Peripheral Nervous System (Represented in Blue)

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Function

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While the nervous system’s structure can be broken down into two parts

(central and peripheral) there are also three different types of function

within the nervous system. These are sensory, response, and integration.

Sensory

Sensory functions are responsible for receiving sensory information (called

stimuli) about our environment. This could include anything our senses

experience from our external world such as a smell, sound or feeling. It

would also include information gathered from sensory receptors in the

blood vessels or organs.

Response

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The response, or motor functions within the nervous system provide a

response to the information that has been collected from sensory

receptors. This could be moving a body part in response to a physical

stimulus. For example, if somebody touches a hot plate the response may

be to move the hand away from the plate. In addition to muscular

movements, the nervous system will also provide internal responses such as
an increased heart rate during exercise, or the production of hormones.

Responses can be both voluntary and involuntary. An example of a

voluntary response would be moving your hand away from a hot plate,

while an example of an involuntary response would be an increased heart

rate during exercise. Voluntary responses are handled by the somatic

nervous system, while involuntary responses are governed by the

autonomic nervous system. Another example of an involuntary response

from the autonomic nervous system would be hormone production from

the endocrine system.

Integration

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The third functional area of the nervous system is responsible for

coordinating between sensory and response functions. Integration

processes sensory signals to determine an appropriate response. It may

draw on memories of similar stimulus received in the past, or other stimulus

that it is receiving in order to develop a response.

Structure

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Central Nervous System
The central nervous system (CNS) controls the majority of the body’s

functions. It is divided into two sections: the brain and the spinal cord. As

information is collected from our peripheral nervous system, it travels

through the central nervous system. Our spinal cord acts as a medium for
communication between the brain and the rest of the body.

Peripheral Nervous System

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) connects the brain and spinal cord to

the rest of the body. We are constantly collecting information about our
surroundings through different senses. You may be reading this (sight) and

touching a desk (touch). Perhaps you have flowers nearby that smell nice

(smell).

Touch receptors in our skin will relay the feeling of a desk back to our brain.
When we smell flowers, olfactory receptors are responding to molecules that

have entered our nose. All of this input is collected through sensory nerves,

which send signals to the brain for processing.

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It is made up of a network of nerves which collect information from our

surroundings and is broken down into the somatic nervous system, and the

autonomic nervous system.

Somatic Nervous System

The somatic nervous system deals with voluntary activity within our skeletal

muscle. This could include activity such as walking, twisting our torso, or

moving our arm. The somatic nervous system is also transferring data

through-out our body using sensory neurons. When we smell something

foul, or see something beautiful – the input collected from our senses is

gathered through sensory neurons.

Autonomic Nervous System

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While the somatic nervous system will address intentional movement, the

autonomic nervous system deals with more unconscious activity such as

heart rate, or digestion. It is broken down into the sympathetic and

parasympathetic nervous systems.

Sympathetic & Parasympathetic Systems

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The sympathetic nervous system provides stimulation to the body in

preparation for physical activity and is often cited as the fight or flight

response. When somebody encounters danger, there are a number of ways

the sympathetic nervous system will work to deal with it. For example, the

heart rate will increase, more energy will be provided to the body through
glucose production, the pupils of the eyes will dilate, and the oxygenation

of the blood will increase through expanded bronchioles in the lungs.

The parasympathetic nervous system will work in contrast to this, relaxing

the body and slowing down functions which require a lot of energy. These
functions include constriction of the pupils, airways and blood vessels,

slowing of the heart rate, and digestive processes.

Yoga & The Nervous System

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Stress & The Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system plays a role in the body’s physical response

to stress. This could include both physical or psychological stress, which will

activate the sympathetic nervous system. This is by design in order to

protect against dangerous scenarios but will also be activated in other

modern situations such as a public speaking engagement. If stress levels

remain high for too long, the sympathetic nervous system can negatively
impact the body through wear and tear.

In order to bring balance into the autonomic nervous system, yoga

provides a tool for stress reduction. Pranayama exercises consisting of slow

breathing or gentle meditation practices can guide the body into a state of

relaxation which theoretically works to activate the PNS and decrease

activity from the SNS.

The Vagus Nerve

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The vagus nerve is a part of the autonomic nervous system and works with

the heart, lungs and digestive system. Chanting is a yoga practice

referenced in ancient texts such as the Upanishads and Vedas where the

practitioner will chant the sound ‘OM’ repeatedly upon exhale.

The sound made by ‘OM’ stimulates the vagus nerve through vibrations in

the vocal chords. This stimulation leads the vagus nerve to then activate the

parasympathetic nervous system, which works to reduce stress, and anxiety.

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