Skip to content
The Nervous System episode artwork

Jun 4, 2026 52 min

The Nervous System

from MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach) Hosted by Health Admissions IQ

A foundational topic for the MCAT is the nervous system, appearing in several exam sections and impacting everything from neurotransmission to brain structure. In this episode, Sam Smith walks us through the nervous system, covering its major components and functions. From the organization of the central and peripheral nervous systems to neurotransmitters and brain structures, Sam provides clear explanations to help you understand key topics like the autonomic nervous system's fight-or-flight response, brain imaging techniques, and more. Visit www.HealthAdmissionsIQ.com for more help with the MCAT. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (01:03) How the central and peripheral nervous systems are organized (02:33) Autonomic and somatic systems (03:22) Sympathetic and parasympathetic branches (04:12) How the brain is structured: forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain (11:44) How brain imaging techniques (CT, MRI, EEG, fMRI, PET) are used (14:06) How neurons are structured and how they transmit signals (16:00) How action potentials work and how ion channels play a role (20:30) How myelin sheaths speed up signals (25:00) How language processing happens in Broca's and Wernicke's areas (28:00) Neurological disorders (43:45) The structures of the limbic system (47:25) The structures of the brain related to addiction

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

Ready to play

The Nervous System

0:00 52:20

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach)?

This episode is 52 minutes long.

When was this MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach) episode published?

This episode was published on June 4, 2026.

Can I download this MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach) episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.