ROLES OF THE NERVOUSSYSTEM AND THE ENDOCRINE

SYSTEM TO OUR BEHAVIORby Marie Angelu Pagobo

In all its forms and shapes, behavior has definitely a biological or physiological base. Two important and distinct bodymechanisms, namely the Nervous System and the Endocrine System, perform a great extent of influence over humanbehavior.

The Nervous System has functions and roles that are very important for living things. It accumulates, processes, andanalyzes information, and (in connection with the fields of psychology) generates coordinated output to control complexbehaviors. The Nervous System works together with the endocrine system by using nerve impulses and by respondingimmediately to stimuli for adjusting body processes.

The Nervous System was essentially divided into two, namely: the Central Nervous System and the Peripheral NervousSystem.

Receiving, processing, interpreting, and storing sensory information coming from sensory nerves like the taste, sound,smell, and pressure on the skin, are the main roles of the Central Nervous System. It also sends messages to the muscles,glands and internal organs.

On the other hand, Peripheral Nervous System is in-charge with the messages and the information coming out of theCentral Nervous System. It is divided into two: the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System. SomaticNervous System (aka Skeletal Nervous System) consists of the nerves associated with sensory receptors that make aperson able to feel the world. It also allows one to perform and deliberate actions such as turning on the lights, and feel theinsect walking on his body, making the somatic system active.

The Autonomic Nervous System serves as a regulator of blood vessels, glands and internal organs such asbladder, stomach and heart. For example, when someone is angry, his ears or his emotion flushes until theheartbeat is increased, turning the said system on. It controls a number of our behaviors through theSympathetic Nervous System (aka the flight or fight response) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System(aka the slow down response), wherein both nervous system is working so that the body can adapt to theenvironment.

The Sympathetic branch is what causes someone's heart to pound in fear or to sweat in a moment ofstressful situation. It causes the body to produce more adrenaline and moves the blood faster so that theperson can escape any danger that may be present. The systems are not normally controllable, however,some people are able to train their bodies to react with specific ways during stressful situations.

While the Sympathetic branch deals with fear, the Parasympathetic branch tells the body to slow down andrelax. This system plays a large role in preparing the body to rest and digest. It is also responsible inreproduction, crying, salivation, and the secretion of body wastes.

The Nervous System controls the fast-changing activities of the body by directly activating muscles andglands. Due to electrochemical nature, the Nervous System is good at quickly conveying information withinthe body. It is the speed of the nervous system that enables the body’s immediate reaction to changes in theenvironment. Messages are sent, decisions are made, and actions are taken-- all were accomplished with thespeed of firing action potentials. Sometimes, however, the body requires communication within that is slowerand produces more long-lasting effects. In these circumstances, the endocrine system takes into action.

The operation of all the endocrine or ductless glands, conducts a great influence on various aspects of thegrowth and development of human personality. The under activity or over activity of these glands caused bythe deficiency or excess of the hormones secreted by them affects not only the growth and development of anindividual but also his entire behavior. A slight imbalance of the hormones may cause unusual restlessness,anxiety, and weakness. Our physical strength, moral thinking and reasoning powers, and decision-makingability, rely upon the health of the glands.

In this way, aside from performing its functions through secretion of hormones by the different glands, theEndocrine System is working in close cooperation with the Nervous System for the development of thedistinctive personality characteristics in an individual. The biological structure of an individual is heavilydetermined by the functioning of his Nervous System and Endocrine glands, making it a primary cause for allhis characteristics and the 'why' and 'how' of his entire behavior.

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