PSYC 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Sensory Neuron, Sympathetic Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System

• School: Memorial University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1000
• Professor: adambrown

Document Summary

Learning objective fourteen: name and describe the functions and the subdivisions of the two major parts of the nervous system. The two major divisions of the nervous system are the central nervous system (cns) and the peripheral nervous system (pns). The main function of the pns is to send and receive information from the cns. The autonomic nervous system operates mostly without help from the cns. This can be divided into two parts; the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system which serve opposite functions. The sympathetic nervous system is activated under conditions of stress where as the parasympathetic nervous system is inhibited during those times but is active during more restful periods. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response where the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the rest and digest response. The central nervous system consists of the spinal cord and the brain.