Anne Frank wrote a diary about the years she and a few others spent in hiding from the Nazis during World War II. These people lived in the upstairs rooms of a shop, accessible only by a hidden stairway; Anne called these quarters the Secret Annex. One day Nazis raided the shop below, but were unsuccessful in locating the hideaways or finding proof of their presence during this particular raid.

Question

Clearly hearing what was occurring downstairs, Anne and her cohorts cowered in silence, for they feared being transported to "death camps." Later, Anne wrote that most of the residents of the Secret Annex experienced diarrhea shortly after this close call. Explain this response by their digestive systems.

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Assuming there is no pathogenic or dietary cause, diarrhea probably resulted from the fight-or-flight reaction of the sympathetic nervous system. Digestive tract secretion and motility are inhibited during a sympathetic response. When the threat had passed and the sympathetic nervous system released the digestive targets from inhibition, there may have been a rebound effect in which the parasympathetic division overstimulated the motility of the tract. Increased motility with decreased time for reabsorption of water can result in diarrhea. It is also thought that the sympathetic response actually stimulates the lower gastrointestinal tract though it inhibits the upper tract. This could also account for the effects. Students may need to consult other sources to answer this question correctly.