Central and peripheral nervous systems

The central nervous system, brain and spinal cord, integrates information and issues commands, while the peripheral nervous system carries signals to and from the rest of the body. For example, touching a hot surface sends a signal up a sensory nerve to the spinal cord, which can trigger withdrawal before the brain has fully processed the pain. This chapter maps both divisions, the brain's major parts, and neuroplasticity, the nervous system's capacity to change with experience.