Reflex action

A reflex action or reflex is a biological control system linking stimulus to response and mediated by a reflex arc. Reflexes can be built-in or learned.

Table of contents

1 Reaction time 2 Mechanism 3 See also 4 External links

Reaction time

For a reflex, reaction time is the time from the onset of a stimulus until the organism responds.

Mechanism

A reflex mechanism involves a receptor organ, and effector organ, and some type of communication network.

Ivan Pavlov unintentionally launched the study of conditioning by establishing a way of producing what he called "conditional reflexes", i.e. reflexes that would only be seen conditional on previous experiences of the subject.

Reflex actions seen in adult humans include:

• accommodation reflex
• Achilles reflex
• Babinski reflex
• biceps stretch reflex
• brachioradialis reflex
• mammalian diving reflex
• gag reflex
• Gastroc-Soleus reflex
• light reflex
• patellar reflex
• photic sneeze reflex
• pupillary reflex
• quadriceps reflex
• salivation
• triceps stretch reflex
• vestibulo-ocular reflex

Processes such as breathing, digestion and the maintenance of the heartbeat can also be regarded as reflex actions, according to some definitions of the term.

Newborn babies have a number of other reflexes which are not seen in adults, including:

• suckling
• hand-to-mouth reflex
• Moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex

See also

• autonomic nervous system

External links

• Reflexes in newborn babies