During heightened emotions, the digestive system slows down or pauses due to the fight-or-flight response. It resumes normal function after the parasympathetic nervous system takes over once the threat has passed.
During a state of heightened emotion, such as stress or fear, the digestive system typically slows down or pauses. This reaction is part of the body's "fight-or-flight" response, orchestrated by the sympathetic nervous system.
In this response, energy is diverted away from non-essential functions like digestion to prioritize muscle function and alertness needed to handle the perceived threat. Once the threat passes, the parasympathetic nervous system helps return the body to a normal state, reactivating the digestive system along with other restorative processes.
The correct answer to the question of what happens to the digestive system during a state of heightened emotion is B) Slows down.