Autonomic nervous-system function includes regulation of processes that usually occur without a deliberate decision, such as heart and digestive activity. A self-observation form cannot tell you whether that system is functioning normally.
A worked situation: Heart-rate regulation
Fictional example. A learner distinguishes a deliberate hand movement from changes in heart rate during ordinary activity. She does not use those observations to diagnose autonomic dysfunction.
Work through these questions: Heart-rate regulation
| Question or field | Fictional completed example |
|---|---|
| Process? | Heart-rate regulation |
| Process? | Digestive activity |
| Voluntary comparison? | Reaching for a cup |
| What varies? | Activity and context |
| What needs testing? | Suspected autonomic disorder assessed clinically |