Neuroscience: A Journey Through the Brain
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The Major Systems: Motor and Sensory

With a basic understanding of neural principles, it is possible to understand how the human brain can detect and process all types of signals from the environment. The taste of an orange, the smell of a rose, the soft feel of cotton, and the beauty of art are all constructs of our brain. For people to consciously perceive any environmental stimuli, hundreds of concurrent and parallel processes need to occur in the brain, involving many different structures and pathways. The Sensory Systems section attempts to give an overview of the main points important for understanding the different types of sensations we have.

Once we understand how our brain processes input signals, we can then turn to a study of our the brain controls the body's motor reaction to stimuli. Turning your head to hear a loud noise or to see a bright light, removing your hand from a hot burner or moving if you see danger approaching are all processes mediated by the motor systems controlled by the brain. The Motor Systems sections gives an overview of the main structures involved in motor control and the pathways along which motor information in carried in the brain.

Created and Maintained by: Melissa Davies
Last Updated: April 09, 2002 09:02 PM