A group of students decided to investigate the relationship between the mass of an object and the pain felt when the object hits a student's foot. They collect data for the pain felt when a glove, an eraser, and a cell phone are dropped on a student's foot. They find that the most pain is felt when the cell phone hits the student's foot.
Which of the following statement correctly explains why more pain is felt when the cell phone hits the student's foot?
a. The nerve impulses increase in strength and lower the threshold potential.
b. The nerve impulses increase in strength, thereby making the maximum membrane potential higher than normal.
c. The nerve impulses occur more frequently, thereby transmitting more action potentials according to the intensity of pain.
d. The nerve impulses occur more frequently and prevent neurons from entering the refractory period.