The Society for Neuroscience identifies eight fundamental principles that organize our understanding of the nervous system. Explore these interconnected concepts that span from molecular to behavioral levels.
How the nervous system encodes and transmits information using various signaling methods, including electrical and chemical signals.
How complex behaviors and functions arise from the interactions of simpler components within the nervous system.
How the nervous system and its functions have been shaped over time by evolutionary processes.
How genetic factors and environmental influences interact to determine an organism's traits and behaviors.
How neural circuits and systems process sensory information, generate cognitive processes, and produce behavioral outputs.
The broad range of functions carried out by the nervous system, including sensation, movement, learning, and memory.
The ability of the nervous system to change and adapt its structure and function in response to experience and environmental challenges.
The fundamental relationship between the physical organization (structure) of the nervous system and the functions it performs.
Neural communication involves action potentials, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters, and various signaling cascades that allow information to flow through neural networks.
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Complex cognitive abilities and behaviors emerge from the collective activity of many neurons and neural circuits working together.
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Neural structures and functions have evolved to enhance survival and reproduction, leading to diverse nervous system organizations across species.
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Neural development and function result from dynamic interactions between genetic programming and environmental experiences.
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The nervous system transforms sensory inputs into meaningful perceptions and appropriate behavioral responses through complex computational processes.
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The nervous system coordinates diverse functions essential for survival, from basic reflexes to complex cognitive abilities.
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Neural plasticity allows the brain to reorganize, form new connections, and adapt throughout life in response to learning and experience.
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Neural anatomy directly relates to function - the organization of cells, circuits, and brain regions determines their computational capabilities.
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