Neurology

Neurology is not directly concerned with the field of communication but is a field of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and the treatment of the nervous system and muscles. However, since we are dealing with all aspects of communication, we shall briefly consider the different ways by which information is communicated to our brain.

Neurology is an examination of the nervous system of a human being. The examination includes an evaluation of the latter’s mental functioning, emotional state, vision, hearing, speech, strength and reflexes, coordination, and perception of touch, pain and temperature. Neurologists use specialized imaging techniques such as angiography, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to view the affected tissues and organs. Afterwards they interpret all this information to make a diagnosis and to determine treatment.

Nervous System

The nervous system is an internal communication network that enables a living thing to adjust to changes in its environment. Almost all animals, except the simplest kinds, have some type of nervous system.

In human beings and other animals with backbones, the nervous system consists of the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves.

The human nervous system, specially our highly developed brain, makes us different from all other animals. It functions much like a complicated computer that enables people to speak, solve difficult problems, and produce creative ideas.

Information travels from a person's surroundings to the brain via the nervous system. The brain then sends instructions to various muscles via other pathways so that the body may respond to the information. Internal functions such as breathing, digestion, and heartbeat are also regulated by the nervous system. All of a person’s movements, sensations, thoughts, and emotions are products of his or her nervous system.

“HOW DOES IT WORK?

The brain is made up of billions of special cells called neurons or nerve cells. Cordlike bundles of neuron fibres are called nerves. The nerves form a network of pathways that conduct information rapidly throughout the body.

A person’s reaction to a situation may take only an instant, but it involves many complicated processes within the nervous system. Specialized neurons, called receptors are located in the ears and eyes and the other sense organs of the body. These receptors translate events in a person’s surrounding into nerve messages, which are known as impulses. Nerve impulses travel along nerve fibres at speeds of 1 to 90 meters per second. The neurons in the brain receive the impulses, analyse and intercept the message, and decide what actions should be taken. Afterwards, the impulses travel trough motor neurons. These nerve cells carry messages from the brain to the muscles and glands, which are called effectors. The effectors carry out the brain instructions and at the same time the brain sends messages to various other parts of the body. For example, when someone sees a tiger, the leg muscles respond and the persons runs away, at the same time, the brain sends messages to the heart to beat faster and send more blood to the leg muscles.”

SOURCE: World Book Encyclopedia