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.

Development of the Nervous System

The Impact of Hormones on the Nervous System

Function of the Nervous System

Pathology of the Nervous System

What are Schwann Cells?

Bioelectronic Medicine: Hacking Nervous System Signals for Therapeutic Benefits

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Why are more older people dying after falls?

For a while, walking the dog felt hazardous. Earl Vickers was accustomed to taking Molly, his shepherd-boxer-something-else mix, for strolls on the beach or around his neighborhood in Seaside, California. A few years ago, though, he started to experience problems staying upright.

15 Sep 2025

Early B cell response prevents Oropouche virus from reaching the brain

Research conducted on mice has identified that the rapid response of a specific type of defense cell is essential for controlling Oropouche virus infections and preventing serious neurological damage.

14 Sep 2025

Imaging breakthrough shows how spinal cord injuries affect the whole central nervous system

A new PET tracer can provide insights into how spinal cord injuries affect not only the spinal cord, but also the brain, according to new research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

13 Sep 2025

Review highlights immunomodulatory and therapeutic effects of ginseng

Ginseng has long been used in traditional medicine to replenish Qi and address deficiency syndromes, often manifesting as fatigue and immune compromise.

13 Sep 2025

Object recognition shapes spatial awareness in the brain

We take our understanding of where we are for granted, until we lose it. When we get lost in nature or a new city, our eyes and brains kick into gear, seeking familiar objects that tell us where we are.

11 Sep 2025

Mapping the evolutionary trajectory of meningiomas at single-cell resolution

Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumors, accounting for nearly one-third of all central nervous system (CNS) tumors.

11 Sep 2025

Chronic insomnia linked to faster cognitive decline and brain changes

People with chronic insomnia may experience faster declines in memory and thinking skills as they age-along with brain changes that can be seen on imaging scans-than people who do not have chronic insomnia, according to a study published in the September 10, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Sep 2025

Exploring whether chemotherapy disrupts biological clock in the brain to impair circadian rhythms

During and after chemotherapy, nearly half of cancer patients endure circadian rhythm disruptions, which worsens treatment side effects.

9 Sep 2025

Many patients undergoing surgery for early-stage cancer continue or start opioid prescriptions

New research indicates that many patients who undergo surgery with the intent to cure early-stage cancer continue or start opioid prescriptions in the year following surgery.

8 Sep 2025

Wearable health trackers reveal how accurate your smartwatch really is

Researchers compare the different health parameters measured by common wearable sensors used by consumers.

8 Sep 2025

Neuritin 1 unlocks new pathway to treat obesity without reducing food intake

Is it possible to treat obesity without reducing food intake? A new study co-led by Dr. Antonio Zorzano and Dr. Manuela Sánchez-Feutrie at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) suggests that this might be a possibility, at least in animal models.

4 Sep 2025

Study links high intake of artificial sweeteners to faster cognitive decline

Some sugar substitutes may come with unexpected consequences for long-term brain health, according to a study published in the September 3, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 Sep 2025

Depressive symptoms may interfere with learning to actively avoid unpleasant events

Depression alters how people pursue rewards, but, conversely, whether depressive symptoms influence how people learn to avoid nonrewarding, unpleasant events is less clear.

1 Sep 2025

Brain pulsations driving glymphatic function differ in narcolepsy patients and healthy individuals

A hormone produced by the brain, orexin, may play a central role in the functioning of the brain’s glymphatic system, which clears waste, according to a new study from the University of Oulu.

1 Sep 2025

Cancer-related nerve injury triggers inflammation and immunotherapy resistance

Cancer cells can break down the protective covers around nerves, causing nerve injury that triggers chronic inflammation leading to immune exhaustion and eventual resistance to immunotherapy, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

1 Sep 2025

Herpes zoster vaccination linked to lower risk of heart attack and stroke

A new global systematic literature review and meta-analysis has shown that herpes zoster vaccination, used to prevent shingles, is associated with a statistically significant lower risk of heart attack and stroke.

29 Aug 2025

Signaling mechanisms driving olfactory neurogenesis in zebrafish

Cellular differentiation of stem cells into specialized cells requires many steps, including division, to create more cells; fate determination, which is a commitment to a specific lineage or developmental path; and migration, to integrate the cell into its final location.

29 Aug 2025

Cardiovascular outcomes worsen in patients with mental health conditions

Every 34 seconds, someone in the United States dies from heart disease. As nearly half of the country suffers from some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), another 1 in 4 adults experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime, signaling an inevitable overlap.

28 Aug 2025

Gut disorders forecast Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s risk years before diagnosis

Study maps clinical, genetic, and proteomic links between gut-brain disorders and neurodegeneration, showing how diabetes, vitamin D deficiency, and bowel disorders forecast Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s years in advance. Multimodal models in biobanks highlight early detection and personalized prevention opportunities.

28 Aug 2025

Researchers develop novel exosome-based therapeutic agent for treating traumatic CNS injuries

Traumatic injuries of the central nervous system (CNS)-such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI)-are characterized by oxidative damage and neuroinflammation.

28 Aug 2025