ROLES OF THE NERVOUS

SYSTEM AND THE ENDOCRINE

SYSTEM TO OUR BEHAVIOR
by Marie Angelu Pagobo

In all its forms and shapes, behavior has definitely a biological or physiological base. Two important and distinct body
mechanisms, namely the Nervous System and the Endocrine System, perform a great extent of influence over human
behavior.
The Nervous System has functions and roles that are very important for living things. It accumulates, processes, and
analyzes information, and (in connection with the fields of psychology) generates coordinated output to control complex
behaviors. The Nervous System works together with the endocrine system by using nerve impulses and by responding
immediately to stimuli for adjusting body processes.
The Nervous System was essentially divided into two, namely: the Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous
System.
Receiving, processing, interpreting, and storing sensory information coming from sensory nerves like the taste, sound,
smell, and pressure on the skin, are the main roles of the Central Nervous System. It also sends messages to the muscles,
glands and internal organs.
On the other hand, Peripheral Nervous System is in-charge with the messages and the information coming out of the
Central Nervous System. It is divided into two: the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System. Somatic
Nervous System (aka Skeletal Nervous System) consists of the nerves associated with sensory receptors that make a
person able to feel the world. It also allows one to perform and deliberate actions such as turning on the lights, and feel the
insect walking on his body, making the somatic system active.

The Autonomic Nervous System serves as a regulator of blood vessels, glands and internal organs such as
bladder, stomach and heart. For example, when someone is angry, his ears or his emotion flushes until the
heartbeat is increased, turning the said system on. It controls a number of our behaviors through the
Sympathetic Nervous System (aka the flight or fight response) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System
(aka the slow down response), wherein both nervous system is working so that the body can adapt to the
environment.
The Sympathetic branch is what causes someone's heart to pound in fear or to sweat in a moment of
stressful situation. It causes the body to produce more adrenaline and moves the blood faster so that the
person can escape any danger that may be present. The systems are not normally controllable, however,
some people are able to train their bodies to react with specific ways during stressful situations.
While the Sympathetic branch deals with fear, the Parasympathetic branch tells the body to slow down and
relax. This system plays a large role in preparing the body to rest and digest. It is also responsible in
reproduction, crying, salivation, and the secretion of body wastes.
The Nervous System controls the fast-changing activities of the body by directly activating muscles and
glands. Due to electrochemical nature, the Nervous System is good at quickly conveying information within
the body. It is the speed of the nervous system that enables the bodys immediate reaction to changes in the
environment. Messages are sent, decisions are made, and actions are taken-- all were accomplished with the
speed of firing action potentials. Sometimes, however, the body requires communication within that is slower
and produces more long-lasting effects. In these circumstances, the endocrine system takes into action.
The operation of all the endocrine or ductless glands, conducts a great influence on various aspects of the
growth and development of human personality. The under activity or over activity of these glands caused by
the deficiency or excess of the hormones secreted by them affects not only the growth and development of an
individual but also his entire behavior. A slight imbalance of the hormones may cause unusual restlessness,
anxiety, and weakness. Our physical strength, moral thinking and reasoning powers, and decision-making
ability, rely upon the health of the glands.
In this way, aside from performing its functions through secretion of hormones by the different glands, the
Endocrine System is working in close cooperation with the Nervous System for the development of the
distinctive personality characteristics in an individual. The biological structure of an individual is heavily
determined by the functioning of his Nervous System and Endocrine glands, making it a primary cause for all
his characteristics and the 'why' and 'how' of his entire behavior.

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