What is the primary function of the central nervous system?

The primary function of the central nervous system (CNS) is to process information and coordinate responses. The CNS, which consists of the brain and spinal cord, serves as the main control center for the body. It receives sensory information from the surrounding environment, interprets this data, and generates appropriate responses.

For instance, when a person touches something hot, the sensory neurons send signals to the CNS, where the information is processed, and a decision is made to withdraw the hand from the heat source. This rapid processing and response coordination are crucial for survival and function, making it clear why processing information and coordinating responses is a central role of the CNS.

While protecting the body from injury is an important aspect of the nervous system as a whole, it is more of a byproduct of the responses coordinated by the CNS rather than its primary function. Regulating hormonal activity is primarily the role of the endocrine system, although the CNS does interact with it. Assisting in voluntary muscle movements involves motor functions carried out by the CNS, but this falls under the broader category of processing information and coordinating responses. Therefore, B accurately encapsulates the main role of the central nervous system.