Tiemann L, Hohn VD, Ta Dinh S, et al. - Considering that noxious stimulus characteristics determine the adaptability and flexibility of autonomic responses and that perceptual and motor responses to noxious stimuli shape these responses, researchers examined how noxious stimulus characteristics, perceptual responses, and motor responses interact in shaping autonomic responses. In 47 healthy human participants, they collected perceptual, motor, and autonomic responses to brief noxious laser stimuli of different intensities. Outcomes establish that autonomic responses are a reflexive reaction to noxious stimuli as well as are directly and indirectly shaped by perceptual and motor responses. These consequences of motor and perceptual processes on autonomic responses possibly permit the integration of contextual processes into protective and regulatory autonomic responses, supporting adaptive and flexible coping with threats.