A person with a fear of heights drives across a high bridge. Which division of the autonomic nervous system will be stimulated in response to this experience?

A) Limbic system
B) Peripheral nervous system
C) Sympathetic nervous system
D) Parasympathetic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system is comprised of the sympathetic (fight or flight response) and parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation response). In times of stress, the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated. A person fearful of heights would experience stress associated with the experience of driving across a high bridge. The peripheral nervous system responds to messages from the sympathetic nervous system. The limbic system processes emotional responses but is not specifically part of the autonomic nervous system.