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.

Bioelectronic Medicine: Hacking Nervous System Signals for Therapeutic Benefits

Function of the Nervous System

Pathology of the Nervous System

Development of the Nervous System

The Impact of Hormones on the Nervous System

What are Schwann Cells?

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Shared genetic roots connect neurological and psychiatric disorders

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Centre for Precision Psychiatry at the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital have discovered extensive genetic links between neurological disorders like migraine, stroke and epilepsy, and psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression.

11 Nov 2025

Preclinical study reveals dampened neuronal activity in alcohol-exposed mice

A psychedelic found in mushrooms is emerging as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorders. This possibility is due to a compound the body converts the psychedelic into called psilocin, but psilocin's mechanisms remain unclear.

11 Nov 2025

Listening to slow-tempo music may boost sleep quality for people over 50

Music therapy significantly improves sleep quality in adults aged 50 and above, showing a moderate-to-large effect compared with control conditions. However, high heterogeneity and methodological weaknesses mean the evidence remains of very low certainty and requires confirmation in larger, standardized trials.

10 Nov 2025

Babies show stronger brain response to their mothers’ voices

In a new JNeurosci paper, Sarah Jessen and colleagues, from the University of Lübeck, explored how infants track their mothers' voices compared to unfamiliar voices.

10 Nov 2025

Harnessing nanotechnology to deliver CBD to the brain for neuropathic pain relief

Reaching for CBD-infused lotion or oil may seem like a low-risk way to find pain relief, but little is actually known about the impact that CBD has on the nervous system.

7 Nov 2025

Exploring endogenous retroviruses as hidden drivers of alcohol use disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD), characterized by uncontrollable alcohol consumption due to physical and psychological dependence, affects approximately 14.1 million people in the U.S.

7 Nov 2025

Intensive mind-body retreat rapidly alters brain function and blood biology

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have found that an intensive retreat combining multiple mind-body techniques, including meditation and healing practices, produced rapid and wide-ranging changes in brain function and blood biology.

6 Nov 2025

Low-dose THC mitigates harmful side effects and inflammation caused by HIV treatment

Long-term, low doses of THC mitigate many harmful side effects and inflammation caused by HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to new research from Texas Biomedical Research Institute.

6 Nov 2025

Researchers identify patient response patterns to novel schizophrenia medication

Each year, about 100,000 Americans experience psychosis, a serious condition that disrupts thoughts and perceptions so profoundly that it can distort a person's sense of reality.

6 Nov 2025

Bleeding strokes strike earlier and harder in heavy drinkers

People who drink heavily may have bleeding strokes a decade earlier than people who are not heavy drinkers, according to a study published November 5, 2025, in Neurology®, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

5 Nov 2025

Heart attack in older adults linked to higher risk of late-onset epilepsy

Older adults who have a heart attack may be more likely to develop epilepsy later in life, according to a study published November 5, 2025 in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

5 Nov 2025

How gut microbes shape sleep: New review reveals microbiome clues to insomnia and apnea

A new Brain Medicine review maps how gut microbes influence sleep disorders, from insomnia and sleep apnea to circadian disruption, via bile acids, neurotransmitters, and immune pathways. The findings highlight gut-driven targets for improving sleep quality through diet, probiotics, and microbiome modulation.

5 Nov 2025

Study sheds light on how Alzheimer's disease may contribute to larger health issues

A recent study from Houston Methodist sheds light on how Alzheimer's disease may contribute to larger health issues by hijacking the body's ability to regulate its metabolism.

5 Nov 2025

New review illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation

A comprehensive review published today in Brain Medicine illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation, establishing the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a critical pathway in understanding and potentially treating sleep disorders.

4 Nov 2025

NIH-funded study investigates signals mediating the earliest stages of cancer development

The same cellular renewal that keeps our bodies healthy might also fuel the growth of cancer. A UC Merced biologist has found that the brain could hold the key to stopping it.

4 Nov 2025

Indoor hydroponic gardening boosts wellbeing for cancer patients

Indoor hydroponic gardening - a method of growing plants using nutrient-rich water instead of soil - could help cancer patients develop better mental health, eat a healthier diet and enjoy a better overall quality of life.

4 Nov 2025

Fruit fly study reveals link between sleep deprivation and eating behavior

Sleep patterns and eating habits can influence each other, but the link between these behaviors remains unclear.

3 Nov 2025

Long-term use of melatonin supplements linked to higher risk of heart failure and death

Long-term use of melatonin supplements, often used to promote sleep and address insomnia, was associated with a higher risk of heart failure diagnosis, heart failure hospitalization and death from any cause in chronic insomnia, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

3 Nov 2025

Scientists uncover new obesity genes that reshape understanding of weight and disease risk

Researchers identified five previously unknown genes linked to obesity by analyzing rare protein-truncating variants across six ancestries. The study reveals how rare and common genetic factors combine to influence BMI and related diseases like diabetes and heart failure.

2 Nov 2025

Neuroscientists uncover a surprising role for "Frazzled" protein in the nervous system of fruit flies

Florida Atlantic University neuroscientists have uncovered a surprising role for a protein named "Frazzled" (known as DCC in mammals) in the nervous system of fruit flies, showing how it helps neurons connect and communicate with lightning speed.

31 Oct 2025

Nervous System

Overview

Bioelectronic Medicine: Hacking Nervous System Signals for Therapeutic Benefits

Function of the Nervous System

Pathology of the Nervous System

Feature Articles

Development of the Nervous System

The Impact of Hormones on the Nervous System

What are Schwann Cells?

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Shared genetic roots connect neurological and psychiatric disorders

Preclinical study reveals dampened neuronal activity in alcohol-exposed mice

Listening to slow-tempo music may boost sleep quality for people over 50

Babies show stronger brain response to their mothers’ voices

Harnessing nanotechnology to deliver CBD to the brain for neuropathic pain relief

Exploring endogenous retroviruses as hidden drivers of alcohol use disorder

Intensive mind-body retreat rapidly alters brain function and blood biology

Low-dose THC mitigates harmful side effects and inflammation caused by HIV treatment

Researchers identify patient response patterns to novel schizophrenia medication

Bleeding strokes strike earlier and harder in heavy drinkers

Heart attack in older adults linked to higher risk of late-onset epilepsy

How gut microbes shape sleep: New review reveals microbiome clues to insomnia and apnea

Study sheds light on how Alzheimer's disease may contribute to larger health issues

New review illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation

NIH-funded study investigates signals mediating the earliest stages of cancer development

Indoor hydroponic gardening boosts wellbeing for cancer patients

Fruit fly study reveals link between sleep deprivation and eating behavior

Long-term use of melatonin supplements linked to higher risk of heart failure and death

Scientists uncover new obesity genes that reshape understanding of weight and disease risk

Neuroscientists uncover a surprising role for "Frazzled" protein in the nervous system of fruit flies

Everything you need to know about epilepsy eBook

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

Nervous System

Overview

Feature Articles

Development of the Nervous System

The Impact of Hormones on the Nervous System

What are Schwann Cells?

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Everything you need to know about epilepsy eBook

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

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