TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Central & Peripheral Neurophysiology: Introduction A1 - Barrett, Kim E. A1 - Barman, Susan M. A1 - Boitano, Scott A1 - Reckelhoff, Jane F. PY - 2017 T2 - Ganong's Medical Physiology Examination & Board Review AB - The central nervous system (CNS) can be likened to a computer processor that is the command center for the functions of the body. The peripheral nervous system is like a set of cables that transfers critical data from the CNS to the body and then feeds back information from the body to the CNS. This sophisticated “computer system” continually makes appropriate adjustments to its inputs and outputs to allow us to react and adapt to changes in the external and internal environments (sensory systems), to maintain posture, permit locomotion, and use the fine motor control in our hands to create pieces of art (somatomotor system), to maintain homeostasis (autonomic nervous system), to regulate the transitions between sleep and wakefulness (consciousness), and to allow us to recall past events and to communicate with the outside world (higher cortical functions). This section on neurophysiology will describe the fundamental properties and integrative capabilities of neural systems that allow for the exquisite control of this vast array of physiologic functions. Medical fields such as neurology, neurosurgery, and clinical psychology build on the foundation of neurophysiology. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1142557278 ER -