Malcolm Is Studying Alone in His Room When He Hears

Multiple Choice

Malcolm is studying alone in his room when he hears a loud noise downstairs. His heart rate and respiration speed up. He wonders if a burglar has entered the house. When he looks downstairs, he sees that his cat just knocked over a plant. He begins to relax and his heart rate and breathing slow down. Which part of his nervous system is working to return him to a normal state?

A) spinal cord
B) somatic nervous system
C) parasympathetic nervous system
D) central nervous system