Final answer:
The statement is true; the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions cause the heart rate to decrease and increase respectively, illustrating antagonistic innervation, which is used to maintain homeostasis in the body's heart rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's statement that the parasympathetic division causes the heart rate to decrease, while the sympathetic division causes the heart rate to increase, and this being an example of antagonistic innervation, is true. When acetylcholine (ACh) is released from the parasympathetic fibers onto heart cells, it binds to muscarinic receptors, causing the cells to hyperpolarize, making it more difficult to reach the threshold, and therefore slowing down the heart rate. Conversely, the release of norepinephrine (NE) by the sympathetic fibers binds to adrenergic receptors, causing depolarization of the cells, which results in an increased heart rate. This dual regulation allows the body to maintain homeostasis, adjusting the heart rate based on the body's needs.