Plain English Meaning
The brain and spinal cord working together as the body's main control center. It takes in what you see, hear, and feel, decides what to do about it, and tells the rest of the body how to respond.
Full Definition
The part of the body's nervous system made up of the brain and spinal cord, which receives information from the senses, processes it, and sends out signals that direct thought, movement, and bodily function.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation training discussions about how students learn, react to stress, form goals, and make decisions.
Derivation
From Latin centralis (at the center) and nervus (sinew, nerve). 'Central' signals that the brain and spinal cord are the hub, while the rest of the nerves running through the body are called the peripheral nervous system.
Why Pilots Care
Factors such as hypoxia, alcohol, medications, or impair central nervous system function, directly reducing , , and in .