Central Nervous System: GCSE Psychology Definition

Cara Head

Written by: Cara Head

Reviewed by: Raj Bonsor

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What is the Central Nervous System?

In GCSE psychology, the central nervous system or CNS refers to the brain and the spinal cord. The CNS is responsible for receiving information from inside the body and from the external environment. The information is processed and then instructions are sent to the rest of the body to facilitate an appropriate response.

Diagram of the nervous system showing the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) and peripheral nerves in a human figure, labelled and highlighted.

Central Nervous System Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

You can use the Save My Exams revision notes to revise the central nervous system as part of your GCSE Psychology studies. You can assess your learning using our selection of GCSE psychology past papers and mark schemes.

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Cara Head

Author: Cara Head

Expertise: Biology Content Creator

Cara graduated from the University of Exeter in 2005 with a degree in Biological Sciences. She has fifteen years of experience teaching the Sciences at KS3 to KS5, and Psychology at A-Level. Cara has taught in a range of secondary schools across the South West of England before joining the team at SME. Cara is passionate about Biology and creating resources that bring the subject alive and deepen students' understanding

Raj Bonsor

Author: Raj Bonsor

Expertise: Psychology & Sociology Content Creator

Raj joined Save My Exams in 2024 as a Senior Content Creator for Psychology & Sociology. Prior to this, she spent fifteen years in the classroom, teaching hundreds of GCSE and A Level students. She has experience as Subject Leader for Psychology and Sociology, and her favourite topics to teach are research methods (especially inferential statistics!) and attachment. She has also successfully taught a number of Level 3 subjects, including criminology, health & social care, and citizenship.

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