FUNCTIONS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM 435 



automatically wash, clean our teeth, dress, go to the toilet, eat 

 our breakfast, walk to school, and even perform such complicated 

 processes as that of writing, without thinking about or directing 

 the machine. Certain acts which once we learned consciously 

 have become automatic. 



Early in our lives we begin to gain a higher control of our body 

 activities. We then make conscious choice; we weigh one course 

 of action against another and decide which is the best course for 

 us to follow — in short, we think. This is the highest type of 

 conscious activity. 



Through the sense organs the nervous system keeps us in touch 

 with the outside world. 



Self-Testing Exercise 



Check the correct statements in your workbook : 



T. F. 1. Man's body is controlled by his brain. 

 T. F. 2. A neuron is a nerve cell. 



T. F. 3. The autonomic nervous system regulates functions which 

 are beyond our control. 



We see and hear in our brain. 



Sensory nerves send outgoing messages. 



Motor nerves send messages toward the central nervous 



The human brain consists of convolutions, hemispheres, 

 and thirty-one pairs of nerves. 



T. F. 8. There are three types of functions over which the human 

 brain has control : the autonomic, activities such as the beating of the 

 heart, or secreting of glands ; the habitual ; and those having to do 

 with conscious thought processes. 



T. F. 9. The cerebellum controls our conscious activities. 



T. F. 10. More of our daily actions are voluntary than habitual. 



PROBLEM V. WHAT PART DO THE SENSE ORGANS PLAY 

 IN THE CONTROL OF THE BODY? 



Laboratory Exercise. Blindfold a pupil. Then lightly touch the 

 back of his hand with the two points of the dividers. Begin with 

 them close together and gradually move them apart. Have the 

 blindfolded person tell as soon as he feels the two points separately. 



T.F. 



4. 



T.F. 



5. 



T.F. 



6. 



system. 





T.F. 



7. 



