Functions The nervous system has many functions that help it satisfy its needs. Functions include receiving information, responding to information, and maintaining homeostasis. Without the nervous system we would not be able to move our hand away when we touch something hot. The nervous system sends signals to our brain to help us react. Now let's move on to explaining all the functions!1. Receiving information: Have you ever touched something that hurt and then quickly moved your hand away? This is the nervous system working throughout your body to get your hand off as quickly as possible. It all starts when you touch that thorny bush and it sends a nerve impulse through your nerves. The nerve impulse moves from the dendrites of neurons. It then travels to the end of the neuron called the tip of the axon. There is a space between one neuron and another. This gap is called the synapse junction. You can think of the synapse junction as a river. The nerve impulse then travels from one neuron to another. It does this until it reaches your brain. Your brain then receives the information and comes up with a solution. Your body does this same process for internal conditions and external environmental conditions.2. Responding to Information: If we couldn't respond to our environment, we would have many injuries. Some people think it would be nice not to feel pain. But what if I had a broken bone and couldn't feel it, so I kept playing and then ended up breaking it again and having to have major surgery? Fortunately, most of us can feel pain thanks to the functioning of the nervous system. The nerve impulse reaches your brain. The cerebrum is the part of the brain that controls your movements. There is also help from the spinal cord which connects the brain and runs through the center of the body. The spinal cord sends the response to the part of the body that needs to be sent. When your body reacts, it sends a signal to the brain called a stimulus. An organism's response to a stimulus is called a reaction. When your body responds it can also have involuntary or voluntary reactions. Involuntary responses are things you can't control like your breathing or heart rate. Voluntary responses are things within your control like snapping your fingers or biting your nails. Now you know that feeling pain is a good thing.