Reflex
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.
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:
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
