reflex actions
Involuntary bodily reactions
Reflex actions are involuntary, automatic responses to stimuli—movements or reactions that happen without conscious thought.
A doctor taps your knee and your leg kicks; you touch something hot and jerk your hand away.
The nervous system bypasses the brain's decision-making, producing immediate protective responses.
The reflex action was faster than thought.
- knee jerkInvoluntary leg response
- jerkAbrupt pulling motion
- blinkRapid lid movement
- blink of an eyeExtremely brief duration
- sensory receptorsCells converting stimuli to signals
startle · twitch · cranial nerves · spinal cord · gut reaction · medulla oblongata · neural pathways · cough · wince · sneeze · synapse · flinch · autonomic nervous system · neurotransmitter · cerebellum · fight-or-flight · quick draw · split second
- instinctsinstinct, survival instinct, survival instincts, maternal instinct, gut instinct
- body reflexesreflexes, blinking, sneezing, coughing, swallowing
- homeostasishomeostasis, negative feedback, feedback loop, feedback loops, positive feedback
- lizard brainlizard brain, brainstem, fight or flight, survival instincts, fear response