Final answer:
The three general functions of the nervous system are sensation, integration, and motor responses. Sensation refers to receiving environmental information, integration involves processing this information with cognitive functions, and motor responses are actions taken in response to integrated information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nervous system and neurons are foundational to the body's ability to function and interact with the environment. The three general functions are sensation, which involves receiving information about the environment; integration, which involves processing this information along with memories, emotional state, or learning; and motor responses, which involve acting on this processed information.
This is the ability of the nervous system to receive information from the environment, such as light, sound, touch, etc. This information is captured by sensory neurons which convey it to the brain. Sensory information is assimilated and processed in the brain. This process combines sensory data with memories, learning, and emotions to formulate an appropriate response. Once the sensory information is integrated, the nervous system generates a response, which could be a muscle movement or the initiation of another action within the body.
Communication between neurons occurs through electrical and chemical signals. Neurons transmit messages via the action potential, which is then communicated to the next neuron at the synaptic cleft through neurotransmitter molecules.