Nerves

How does our nervous system work?

The communication network in our body has the most important task of recording and processing information. How does this work? The brain receives information or stimuli from our environment via the senses. The internal state of the body is also monitored, such as our temperature and blood values. This information travels via the network of nerves in our body to the brain, which then processes this information and produces a meaningful response. A distinction is made between the central and peripheral nervous systems. The spinal cord and the brain form the central nervous system, the other nerves together form the peripheral nervous system, which connects muscles and organs to the central nervous system. The autonomous part of the peripheral nervous system regulates unconscious functions of organs, such as breathing and the beating of the heart. The nerves in the spinal cord ensure communication between the brain and the rest of the body via a bundle of motor and sensory nerves. Not only does the spinal cord form the most important conveyor belt of stimuli, the spinal cord can also respond to reflexes independently of the brain.

Taking care of your nervous system

A human being has approximately 100 billion nerve cells, each consisting of a cell body with extensions. A nerve consists of a kind of braid of all these extensions, originating from different nerve cells. It is a covered, cable-like bundle that can be compared to, for example, a fiber optic cable. In order to protect this complex whole of extensions well, they are surrounded by an insulating layer called myelin, a fatty substance that also contributes to fast, targeted signal conduction. The composition of myelin consists of approximately 70-85% fats, of which cholesterol is an essential component. Fatty acids are essential for the construction and functioning of the brain and nerve cells and consuming too little of them can reduce the functioning of your nerves. The unsaturated omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are particularly important. The fatty acids are part of the walls and myelin sheath of cells and ensure that cells can transmit signals to each other. Furthermore, B vitamins also support the normal functioning of the nervous system by helping to produce signal substances between nerve cells and contributing to the maintenance of the myelin sheath.