Question

When you are startled by a noise in the middle of the night, your heart begins racing. This increase in heart rate is due to the work of your

a) Sympathetic nervous system
b) Parasympathetic nervous system
c) Central nervous system
d) Autonomic nervous system

Answer 1

The increase in heart rate is due to the work of the sympathetic nervous system as part of the fight-or-flight response.

Step-by-step explanation:

The increase in heart rate you experience when startled is due to the work of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system prepares your body for a possible emergency by increasing heart rate. This response is part of the body's fight-or-flight response, which helps prepare you to deal with potential danger.