Question

4. Imagine that you wake up and are eating breakfast. You suddenly realize that you have a test today,

and you forgot to study for it. You begin to feel nervous and afraid, and you call a friend to ask if they
have studied for the same test. You learn that the test is not today, but next week, and you begin to feel
much calmer, and much happier.
i. For this scenario, describe the role of your central nervous system, and each portion of your
peripheral nervous system, including the somatic and autonomic portions.

Answer 1

Initially, the student panics that they have not studied as they experience stress from being unprepared. They are anxious and feel the effects of the sympathetic nervous system, one of the divisions in the central nervous system. The student's heart may race and they may feel flushed as they handle the intense anxiety. Once, the student realizes the test is another day, the student experiences the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system. Their body will relax as they release muscle tension, their heart rate normalizes and they will feel calmer mentally and physically