Which of the following is the greatest barrier to effective verbal communication in the nervous system?

• A. Presence of myelin sheath on axons
• B. Ambiguity in language and meaning
• C. Efficient synaptic transmission
• D. Rapid transmission of electrical impulses

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the question, which is about barriers to effective verbal communication within the nervous system and language processing.
2. Step 2: Recognize that the options related to the nervous system's physical properties (myelin sheath, synaptic transmission, rapid electrical impulses) generally facilitate communication rather than hinder it.
3. Step 3: Identify that 'ambiguity in language and meaning' refers to the psychological and linguistic challenges in interpreting verbal messages, which can cause misunderstandings despite efficient neural transmission.
4. Step 4: Analyze how ambiguity affects communication by causing confusion or misinterpretation of words, phrases, or sentences, which is a major barrier in verbal communication.
5. Step 5: Conclude that while the nervous system's physical mechanisms support communication, the greatest barrier is the ambiguity inherent in language and meaning, which impacts effective verbal communication.