Brenda was startled when a large shadow unexpectedly passed across her living room window. When she realized that it was just a cloud passing in front of the full moon, her racing heart began to slow and her blood pressure started to return to normal. What triggered the reactions as Brenda began to relax?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for slowing down bodily responses and restoring the body to a state of rest and relaxation. In this scenario, when Brenda realized that the passing shadow was just a cloud, her parasympathetic nervous system began to counteract the fight-or-flight response that had been triggered by her sympathetic nervous system. As a result, her heart rate slowed and her blood pressure returned to normal.

Brenda Was Startled When a Large Shadow Unexpectedly Passed Across