Why does it take longer for the brain to respond to a painful stimulus than it does for the spinal cord to respond?
A) The brain has more body parts to control than the spinal cord.
B) The brain needs confirmation from another sense before it responds to a painful stimulus.
C) The signal travelling to the brain involves electrical communication, which is slower.
D) The signal travelling to the brain must cross many more synapses.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The signal for a painful stimulus must travel up the spinal cord to the brain, crossing many synapses along the way. Each synapse introduces a delay, making the overall response time longer compared to the spinal cord's more direct and localized reflex actions.

Why Does It Take Longer for the Brain to Respond