Nervous System Influence in Shaping Behaviour

Dr. Kathryn Westbeld 

Shaping Behavior

The brain is a sophisticated organ whose function and design makes it the main hub for the nervous and sensory systems and cognitive functions, all of which are vital in forming behavior. They function separately, yet in conjunction to construct movements and behaviors. This paper will discuss how these systems and cognitive functions shape behaviors.

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The brain develops as at a rapid pace, pre-and post-birth. During childhood, numerous synapses grow at an extraordinary rate (Dawson, Ashman, & Carver, 2000). The number of nerve cells in the brain are inconceivable. These cells function together to create behaviors (National Research Council, 1989) by sending continuous messages to and from the brain via neurons throughout the body.

The primary motor cortex, located in the cerebral cortex, is important for preparing and conducting voluntary movement. Purves, Augustine, et al (2001) maintain that upper neurons located in the cerebral cortex are in areas of the front of the brain and coordinates preparation along with execution of intricate voluntary movement.

Another important factor in shaping behavior is the nervous system. Like the brain, the nervous system is complex and sophisticated. The nervous system is responsible for synchronizing individuals’ movements, whether voluntary or involuntary. The peripheral and central nervous systems partner together to control bodily actions, such as laughing, reacting to pain, etc. This system links the brain and spinal cord to the all the body and are outside of the brain and spinal cord. The somatic nervous system is a part of the peripheral nervous system. It contains axons which relays messages from the sense organs to and from the central nervous system to the muscles. The automatic nervous system oversees the organs, the heart, and intestines and communicates messages to those areas. The automatic nervous system consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Both systems have varying effects on the organs and its functions. Rigorous activities are triggered by the sympathetic nervous system, while actions, such as digesting food occur because of the parasympathetic nervous system.

The central nervous system contains the brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord communicates with the muscles and organs. The head is not a part of this communication. A sensory nerve and a motor nerve are parts of the central nervous system. These parts transport messages to and receives from the brain (Kalat, 2016).

Sampson & Mazmanian (2015) studied how the brain develops, function, and performance by the biome. They sought to discover how the nervous system can be regulated by microbiota. Studies show that intestinal microbiota appears to change parts of their host’s neurological function, which influences actions and mood. Intestinal microbiota has an influential role in forming the immune system of the host. Ultimately, this plays a role in affecting the behavior of the host. Further exploration revealed the interchange between the microbiota and the nervous system is considered ancillary.

Sight, sound, touch, smelling, and hearing are possible due to the sensory system. Special sensory neurons transmit signals through nerve fibers to the central nervous system where messages are transported to and from the brain which allow for recognition of stimuli present. This makes it possible for individuals to change behaviors or their response to the stimuli, if necessary (Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2002).

The Role of Cognitive Function in Shaping Behavior

Cognitive function or cognitive control, as referred to by Botvinick & Braver (2015) is the superior function which controls actions, such as working memory, attention, and the control of movement. Hermundstad et al (2014) have reported that neural action may be linked to cognitive function. The researchers report that other studies have shown that such relationships are maintained separately by definite properties of brain connectivity. The researchers discovered that the physical make-up of the brain plays an integral part in forming the cognitive function when examining organizational and functional correlation in and between two functional networks.

How the Brain, Nervous and Sensory Systems, and Cognitive Functions Shape Behavior

It can be said that the brain, nervous and sensory systems, and cognitive functions are interrelated when it comes to shaping behavior. Although each has separate functions, they all work together to develop behavior. The brain serves as the hub from which the sensory system, nervous system and cognitive function flow coordinating a synchronous reaction of neural activity which directs behavior.

Any impairment in one or more of the systems creates a lack of function. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are examples of what damaged nerve cells can cause. Another neurological disease is Huntington’s. The loss of nerve cells required for cognitive and motor functions affects the body by causing bodily disfiguration and even impacting how the brain and spinal cord operates.

In conclusion, behavior is shaped because of an orchestration of the brain and nervous and sensory systems. Cognitive functions are also a part of this orchestration. Independently, these systems form a vital core which organizes and drives the execution of behaviors of the human body. Any interruption or impairment of these systems disturb behaviors which can create debilitating conditions for individuals.

References

Berg JM, Tymoczko JL, Stryer L. Biochemistry. 5th edition. New York: W H Freeman; 2002. Chapter 32, Sensory Systems. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21217/

Botvinick, M., & Braver, T. (2015). Motivation and cognitive control: From behavior to neural mechanism. Annual Review of Psychology, 66(1), 83-113. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015044

Dawson, G. Ashman, S.B., & Carver, L.J. (2000). The role of early experience in shaping behavioral and brain development and its implications for social policy. Development and Psychopathology. Cambridge University Press. 12, p 695-712.

Hermundstad, A.M., Brown, K.S., Bassett, D. S., Aminoff, E. M., Frithsen, A., Johnson, A., Tipper, C.M., Miller, M. B., Grafton, S.T., Carlson, J. M. (2014). Structurally-constrained relationships between cognitive states in the human brain. Computational Biology. Retrieved from http://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003591#abstract0

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003591

Kalat, J. W. (2016). Biological psychology (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Sampson, T.R. & Mazmanian, S.K. (2015). Control of brain development, function, and behavior by the microbiome. California Institute of Technology. Pasadena: CA