Nervous System

The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous system contains the brain and spinal cord.

What is the Nervous System?

The nervous system is a complex network of neurons and cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body.

Pathology of the Nervous System

What are Schwann Cells?

The Impact of Hormones on the Nervous System

Bioelectronic Medicine: Hacking Nervous System Signals for Therapeutic Benefits

Function of the Nervous System

Development of the Nervous System

Latest Nervous System News and Research

First Europe-wide analysis reveals widespread raccoon roundworm infection

The raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis can cause severe diseases in humans, including fatal brain damage.

19 Dec 2025

Researchers decipher anti-MOG antibody construction, paving way for therapies

MOG Antibody-associated Disease (MOGAD) is a rare autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The blood of patients contains antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), a protein in the myelin layer that surrounds the neurons in the brain. It is believed that these antibodies contribute to the destruction of this protective layer in the brain.

18 Dec 2025

Eating high-fat cheese and cream may be linked to lower dementia risk

Eating more high-fat cheese and high-fat cream may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published on December 17, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

17 Dec 2025

Study finds small sex differences in recovery after ischemic stroke

When examining recovery during the first year after an ischemic stroke, a new study has found for daily tasks such as eating, dressing and driving, female participants experienced slightly worse recovery than male participants.

17 Dec 2025

Distant astrocytes found to play a key role in spinal cord repair

Cedars-Sinai investigators have discovered a healing mechanism that could one day be harnessed to help treat patients with spinal cord injuries, stroke, and neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

17 Dec 2025

Stress may help explain why patients with depression are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease

Patients with depression are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and a new study suggests that stress may help explain why.

17 Dec 2025

Combination therapy shows promise to treat a rare, catastrophic pediatric brain cancer

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists identified a promising combination approach to treat a rare, but catastrophic pediatric brain cancer called atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT).

16 Dec 2025

A multi-gene mouse model reveals new mechanisms of Hirschsprung disease

During development of the digestive system, a complex network of nerves forms around it, creating a "second brain" - the enteric nervous system (ENS) - which controls the movement of food and waste through the gut.

16 Dec 2025

Scientists discover rapid synapse adaptation in neuronal communication

Every movement you make and every memory you form depends on precise communication between neurons. When that communication is disrupted, the brain must rapidly rebalance its internal signaling to keep circuits functioning properly.

16 Dec 2025

Researchers explore how the visual brain system recovers following traumatic injury

The brain shows a capacity to recover from traumatic injury, which somewhat contradicts the widely accepted idea that neurons do not regenerate.

15 Dec 2025

Lipoic acid shows limited benefit in progressive multiple sclerosis

The over-the-counter supplement lipoic acid may have a small beneficial effect in slowing the loss of gray matter in the brains of people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, according to new research led by Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland VA Health Care System.

15 Dec 2025

COVID-19 could leave a measurable imprint on the brain

COVID-19 does not just affect the respiratory system, but also significantly alters the brain in people who have fully recovered from the infectious disease, highlighting the long-term neurological impact of the virus.

15 Dec 2025

Novel AI tool not only identifies genetic mutations but also predicts the type of disease

Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a novel artificial intelligence tool that not only identifies disease-causing genetic mutations but also predicts the type of disease those mutations may trigger.

15 Dec 2025

Gut bacteria mimicry can accelerate the progression of multiple sclerosis

If gut bacteria are too similar to the protective layer of nerves, they can misdirect the immune system and cause it to attack its own nervous system.

15 Dec 2025

Global study finds stark differences in survival among children with cancer

Every year, more than 200,000 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and nearly 75,000 die from the disease.

15 Dec 2025

Bioluminescent tool illuminates single-cell activity in living brains

A decade ago, a group of scientists had the literally brilliant idea to use bioluminescent light to visualize brain activity.

12 Dec 2025

Autoimmune attack on CASPR2 drives nerve hyperexcitability and involuntary muscle activity

A scientific review on autoimmune neurological diseases reveals what occurs in our body when the immune system, by mistake, produces antibodies that target a protein essential for the normal functioning of nerves.

12 Dec 2025

Researchers identify enzyme linked to myelin damage and neurodegenerative conditions

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have identified a type of enzyme with a complicated name - cell migration inducing and hyaluronan-binding protein, or CEMIP - is associated with disorders ranging from multiple sclerosis to stroke to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

11 Dec 2025

Glucose-lowering drugs may reduce risk of developing epilepsy

A preliminary study of people with diabetes suggests that use of glucose-lowering GLP-1 drugs may be linked to a lower risk of developing epilepsy. The study was published on December 10, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Dec 2025

New AAN guideline offers treatment strategies for functional seizures

To help neurologists, mental health clinicians and other clinicians determine the best ways to help people manage functional seizures, the American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline, published on December 10, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Dec 2025