Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)
The PNS in one part of the autonomic
nervous system. The other part of the autonomic nervous system is the sympathetic
nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system is basically the body’s fight or
flight response in face of threat or perceived threat. The symaptheic nervous system causes bodily
responses such as fast heart rate, shallow and quick breathing, suppression of
digestive system, etc.
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) on the other hand
has the exact opposite effect on the body after a risky situation has passed(where the sympathetic nervous system was activated). The PNS relaxes and provides the body with rest after arousal- heart
rate slows down, breathing slows down, digestive functioning returns to normal.
Therefore, in Selma’s case after she was in a state of arousal from fear of arriving home safely, her parasympathetic nervous system got activated (slower breathing and heart rate) once she
got home and was no longer in the dangerous situation.
