Final answer:
Emotions affect both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems; where the sympathetic division is responsible for the fight-or-flight response during stress, and the parasympathetic promotes rest and digest activities during calm states.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system are influenced by emotion. When an individual experiences emotions such as fear or excitement, the sympathetic nervous system activates the fight-or-flight response, causing an increase in heart rate, respiration, and energy mobilization. Conversely, during calm and relaxed states, the parasympathetic nervous system predominates, encouraging rest and digest activities, such as digestion and energy conservation.
Emotions can trigger these nervous systems because they prepare the body for the demands that emotions often infer, whether it be a stressful situation requiring heightened alertness and energy expenditure or a relaxed state that allows the body to recover and maintain homeostasis. Therefore, emotional states can have profound effects on the balance and function of these two autonomic subdivisions.