Nervous system ↗Cerebral networks
Cortical and subcortical circuits support perception, action, language, memory, prediction, emotion, and flexible behavior. Functions emerge from networks rather than one isolated “center.”
BRAIN & NERVES / 01
A distributed network,
not brain alone.
Brain and spinal circuits integrate signals, peripheral nerves carry information in both directions, autonomic and enteric circuits regulate organs, and glia, vessels, immune cells, and endocrine loops shape the operating environment.
Diencephalic relays
Thalamic circuits route and shape information; hypothalamic networks integrate temperature, appetite, osmolality, endocrine, autonomic, sleep, and defensive responses.
Brainstem control
Midbrain, pons, and medulla contain sensory, motor, arousal, respiratory, cardiovascular, cranial-nerve, and pain-modulating circuits.
Spinal processing
The spinal cord relays ascending and descending signals while local circuits organize reflexes, locomotor patterns, autonomic output, and sensory gating.
Sensory afferents
Receptors transduce touch, stretch, temperature, chemicals, tissue threat, position, and organ state into neural signals traveling toward central circuits.
Somatic motor output
Upper and lower motor pathways recruit skeletal-muscle motor units; sensory feedback continuously updates force, balance, and movement.
Autonomic output
Sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways use ganglia and organ-specific patterns to regulate smooth muscle, cardiac tissue, glands, vessels, and metabolism.
Enteric circuits
Networks within the gut coordinate motility, secretion, blood flow, and local sensation while communicating with central, autonomic, endocrine, immune, and microbial systems.
Glia maintain context
Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells, microglia, and other support cells manage ions, transmitters, myelin, metabolism, repair, and immune surveillance.
Barriers regulate exchange
Brain endothelium, pericytes, glial endfeet, meninges, and cerebrospinal-fluid interfaces control transport and protect neural extracellular conditions.
Endocrine loops extend time
Hypothalamic–pituitary axes convert neural context into circulating hormone signals with feedback spanning minutes to days.
Plasticity changes the map
Synapses, myelin, excitability, gene expression, glial state, and behavior adapt with learning, development, injury, sleep, and repeated experience.