Organization of the Nervous System

The nervous system consists of various units, including the central nervous system (brain, brainstem, and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (autonomic and somatic nervous system). Each anatomically distinct module exists twice, once in the left and right halves of the body. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary body processes and consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, while the somatic nervous system transmits and processes sensory information and motor commands. The spinal cord contains circuits for reflexes and complex movements. The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information and regulates the flow of information to the cerebral cortex. The cerebrum consists of two hemispheres, which are responsible for different functions such as language and spatial thinking and interact with each other. The basal ganglia are responsible for motor control and learning. The cerebellum is responsible for the coordination and fine-tuning of movements, while the hippocampus is important for the formation of new memory contents and spatial navigation.