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 Our evolving model of the nervous system is definitely a start at understanding the complexity of the nervous system.  The idea that the nervous system is just boxes inside boxes inside other boxes seems like an attempt to compartmentalize the nervous system and to give it structure.  But in my mind, the nervous system can't be so restricted. I do not think everything that happens can just be put into another box because that makes it seem like there are definite boundaries to what the system can accomplish.  Could the nervous system itself produce its own input and then generate an output from that? I think my confusion is coming from where the "initial" stimulus of the nervous system is coming from.  If the stimulus was not from the environment then how does the brain decide to stimulate an output? Do desire/wants count as a stimulus ? Such as wanting to eat versus actually being hungry so needing to eat? And where does the control come from to ignore the stimuli from the nervous system? In people with eating disorders or any kind of deprivation activity, they are actively ignoring their bodies and the signals it sends.