reflex
Body's instant answer
A reflex is an automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus—the knee jerks when tapped, the eye blinks when threatened.
The term extends to any habitual or instinctive reaction: Apologizing was a reflex for her.
As an adjective, reflex describes such responses: reflex action.
A reflex angle is one greater than 180 degrees, bending back on itself.
Instinctive and unconsidered
- blinkRapid lid movement
- sneezeExplosive nasal reflex
- coughExplosive airway clearing
- gagMouth restraint or jest
startle · shiver · yawn · hiccup · swallow · salivation · flinch · recoil
Driven by natural impulse
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- hardwiredPermanently connected by wires
- inbornExisting from birth
- unlearnedLacking acquired knowledge
primal · survival · biological · genetic · unconscious · preprogrammed · hereditary · natural
Muscle-to-bone connector
suckling · grasp · pupillary · corneal · bicep · tricep · abdominal · gag
What prompts a reaction
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- associationGroup with shared aim
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
extinction · habituation · reinforcement · desensitization · generalization · discrimination · acquisition · unconditioned
Response to stimulus
- snapSudden sharp sound
- split-secondFraction of a moment
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
- rapidMoving with haste
swift · immediate · quick · fast · hair-trigger · lightning · prompt · speedy
knee-jerk
Instinctive and unconsidered
gag · startle · shiver · yawn · hiccup · swallow · salivation · flinch · recoil · wince
instinctual
Driven by natural impulse
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- hardwiredPermanently connected by wires
- inbornExisting from birth
unlearned · primal · survival · biological · genetic · unconscious · preprogrammed · hereditary · natural · automatic
tendon
Muscle-to-bone connector
rooting · suckling · grasp · pupillary · corneal · bicep · tricep · abdominal · gag · stretch
stimulus
What prompts a reaction
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- associationGroup with shared aim
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
classical · extinction · habituation · reinforcement · desensitization · generalization · discrimination · acquisition · unconditioned · bell
reaction
Response to stimulus
- snapSudden sharp sound
- split-secondFraction of a moment
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
rapid · swift · immediate · quick · fast · hair-trigger · lightning · prompt · speedy
guard
Watchful defensive attention
duck · shield · protective · evasive · martial · combat · sparring · counterattack
- improvisationimprovised, impromptu, ad lib, freestyle, ad-lib
- instinctsinstinct, survival instinct, survival instincts, maternal instinct, gut instinct
- Quick Decisionssnap judgment, gut feeling, impulse buy, quick pick, on the fly
- spontaneous actsimpulse buy, impulse purchase, whim, sudden urge, snap judgment
- Body Processesmetabolism, digestion, respiration, circulation, heartbeat
- body signalsheartbeat, pulse, brainwaves, brain waves, brainwave
reflexvoluntary
Done by choice
deliberate · conscious · intentional · willed · volitional
reflexdeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
considered · premeditated · thoughtful · reasoned · calculated
- reflect onThink deeply about
- reflective gearLight-returning safety apparel
- reflected onThought deeply about
- quick reflexesRapid involuntary responses
- reflective thinkingExamining one's own mental processes
- gag reflexThroat's protective contraction
reflect, reflects, reflection, reflective, reflected, reflexes, reflector, reflexive, reflexed