II. Why is the study of “sleep” important in a psychology course? What benefit does sleep provide to the nervous system and to the body in general?
The Nervous system is divided into two main parts: the Central Nervous System (CNS), which consist of the spinal chord and the brain, and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), which connects the CNS to the rest of the body. Together, they are responsible for controlling the body and allowing communication among body parts. The PNS has two main subdivisions which are the somatic nervous system, which is responsible for all voluntary actions, and the autonomic nervous system which control our internal organs and glands, and is responsible for all activities beyond our control. The Nervous System is a complex collection of nerves and neurons that transmit signals between different parts of the body. It gathers information from the body with the use of sensory receptors, sends a signal to the CNS which in turn determines the appropriate response and then sends a signal to the muscles or glands to produce such a response. (Psychology, 2014) …show more content…
The study of sleep is important in psychology because insufficient sleep can result in negative psychological consequences such as a decrease in mental alertness and cognitive functions. Some of these consequences include increased blood pressure and stress hormone levels, obesity and a memory loss. There is research that suggest that those who are sleep deprived possesses the same consequences as those intoxicated by alcohol which means that it would be dangerous for them to drive or operate machinery. (Psychology,