What physiological process occurs primarily during a cool-down phase?

During the cool-down phase after physical activity, body temperature stabilizes as a key physiological process. This phase allows the body to gradually return to its resting state after exertion. During intense exercise, body temperature rises due to increased muscle activity and metabolic processes. The cool-down helps facilitate a gradual decrease in body temperature, allowing the body to transition smoothly out of the heightened state of exercise. This stabilization is important for preventing dizziness and reducing the risk of fainting or other complications that can arise from abruptly stopping intense physical activity.

In contrast, options such as increased heart rate and blood pressure levels spiking typically occur during exercise, not during the cool-down. While oxygen consumption may decrease after an activity, the focus of the cool-down is particularly on the body's ability to return to a stable and normal condition, emphasizing temperature regulation as a critical factor. Thus, the process of body temperature stabilizing is a clear and crucial aspect of what happens during the cool-down phase.