Brain vs. Spinal Cord Anatomically, the brain or central nervous system (CNS) is distinct from the spinal cord. The CNS is encased in the skull, while one end of the spinal cord is attached at the base of the brain and the other end extends down the spinal column to the lumbar region. A rough visual and functional analogy would be the cables from the keyboard, mouse, internet connection, and monitor (spinal column) connecting to the processor inside a computer (CNS).

The CNS and spinal cord are functionally distinct as well. The spinal cord collects the nerve fibers carrying peripheral sensory information and relays it to the CNS. These sensory nerve fibers are called afferent or ascending fibers. There are four main types of information transmitted through afferent fibers: mechanoreceptors (touch), proprioreceptors (muscle movement), thermoreceptors (temperature), and nocioceptors (pain). The information...

Very little processing occurs in the spinal cord; however, the cognitive experience of these inputs is unified, which suggests the processing of the sensory information is accomplished simultaneously or in parallel within the CNS. Once this information has entered the CNS, it is acted upon through comparison with past memories of similar sensory experiences. The relevant memories, and any associated expectations concerning reward and punishment, will influence how the information is processed, perceived, and responded to behaviorally. For example, if a person steps in a mud puddle by accident and…