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?
A) spinal cord
B) somatic nervous system
C) sympathetic nervous system
D) parasympathetic nervous system

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "rest and digest" response in the body, which helps to return the body to a normal state after a stressful situation. In this case, once Malcolm realizes that there is no danger and his body is no longer in a state of high alert, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over and helps to calm him down.

Malcolm Is Studying Alone in His Room Late at Night