Malcolm is studying alone in his room late at night when he hears a loud noise downstairs. His heartbeat increases significantly and his breathing becomes shallow. He wonders if a burglar has entered the house and decides to investigate. When he gets downstairs, he discovers his cat has knocked over a plant stand. His body begins to relax and return to normal. Which part of his nervous system is responsible for returning Malcolm to a normal state?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for returning the body to a state of relaxation after the sympathetic nervous system has triggered the “fight or flight” response. In this scenario, Malcolm’s body had reacted with an increase in heart rate and shallow breathing due to the activation of his sympathetic nervous system, but once he realized it was just his cat, his parasympathetic nervous system kicked in and allowed his body to return to a normal state.

Malcolm Is Studying Alone in His Room Late at Night