Following a period of intense fear, the heart may be slowed to a stop causing sudden death due to which of the following?
A) a sympathetic overload
B) a parasympathetic rebound
C) adrenaline poisoning
D) opponent-process feedback

Question

Following a period of intense fear, the heart may be slowed to a stop causing sudden death due to which of the following?​
A) ​a sympathetic overload
B) ​a parasympathetic rebound
C) ​adrenaline poisoning
D) ​opponent-process feedback

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A period of intense fear can cause a surge in sympathetic nervous system activity, which raises heart rate and blood pressure. When the threat or fear passes, the parasympathetic system typically inhibits the sympathetic activity and slows heart rate back down to baseline. However, in some cases, the parasympathetic response is too strong and leads to a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, causing the heart to stop altogether (referred to as a parasympathetic rebound), which can result in sudden death.

Following a Period of Intense Fear, the Heart May Be