Jim Rutt might define the nervous system with a blend of scientific precision and conceptual clarity as follows: The nervous system, in Rutt's view, is the intricate network of neurons and supporting cells that orchestrates an organism's ability to perceive, process, and respond to external and internal stimuli. It's a highly dynamic and adaptive structure, comprising the central nervous system (CNS)—the brain and spinal cord—and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes a vast array of sensory and motor pathways. This system not only facilitates immediate reactions but also underpins complex behaviors, learning, and memory. Through electrochemical signaling, the nervous system integrates sensory input, processes information, and orchestrates appropriate responses, thus enabling the sophisticated functionalities that are the hallmark of higher life forms.

See also: neural network, emergence, evolutionary psychology, integrated information theory, crypto