The neuropsychological function of the 12 cranials nerves

Abstract

The cranial nerves can be an important key for research in Neuropsychology. Our hypothesis is that they can be organized in three groups and then, related to specifics attitudes.

The Cochlear Nerve (VII pair), the Optic Nerve (II pair) and the olfactory nerve (I pair) have special translators that process the sensorial information from the environment to the brain, to form a clue. They are the first cranial nerve group: the cognitive nerves that incite the nervous system in an endogenous way. The second cranial nerve group stimulates muscles: the spinal nerve (XI pair) that regulates the posture, the trigeminal nerve (V pair) that is connected to mastication muscles and the hypoglossal nerve (XII pair) that supplies motor fibers for all the tongue muscles. They are behavioral nerves and act in an exogenous way.

The third cranial nerve group regulates the emotions and is connected to the SNA: the Vagus nerve (X pair), the Facial nerve (VII pair) and the Glossofaringeal nerve (IX pair).

The cranial nerves that enervate the eyes muscles are responsible for the regulation of the visual focus and the attention. We related them to the three groups above described. The Trochlear nerve (IV pair) incite a cognitive attitude and act in an endogenous way; the Abducent nerve (VI pair) produces the plain environmental attention through the saccades and following eyes movement and produces behavioral attitudes and the Oculomotor Nerve (III pair) act in autonomic way, regulating the inner feelings and emotions.