Description

Emotional stress, when accompanied by guilt and a known consequence, e.g. punishment, will cause the body to physically react. This stress may be overtly revealed in the form of observable reactions such as sweating, a shaky voice, dry mouth, increased body odor, runny nose, upset stomach, hives, or coupled with notable body movements; i.e. body language. These overt responses are commonly referred to as the "Fight or Flight Syndrome." The central nervous system which supports the autonomic branch makes these overt responses uncontrollable. The central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord integrate sensory data via a pathway known as the vagus nerve. When the brain receives and interprets information from questions being asked, this information may or may not produce stress, depending on guilt and the consequence involved. Once stressful information is learned, the brain sends a message through the vagus nerve resulting in a proportionate reaction in the vocal cords.