In the context of the organization of the nervous system, parallel processing is the neural circuit in which:

• A. multiple neural pathways process the same information simultaneously
• B. information flows in a strictly linear, step-by-step sequence
• C. a single neuron transmits information to only one target neuron
• D. signals are inhibited from reaching their final destination

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of parallel processing in the nervous system, which refers to the ability of the brain to process multiple streams of information at the same time.
2. Recognize that in parallel processing, multiple neural pathways are involved simultaneously, allowing the brain to handle different aspects of information concurrently rather than sequentially.
3. Contrast this with linear processing, where information flows in a step-by-step manner through a single pathway, which is not characteristic of parallel processing.
4. Note that a single neuron transmitting information to only one target neuron describes a more limited, point-to-point communication, not parallel processing.
5. Identify that inhibition of signals from reaching their final destination is related to neural inhibition, which is a different concept from parallel processing.