Reflexes, Unconditioned Reflex

Article "Reflexes, Unconditioned Reflex"

Reflexes are the body’s natural responses to changes in the environment or internal environment. They manifest themselves in the occurrence or cessation of any activity of the body, contraction or relaxation of muscles, constriction or dilation of blood vessels, etc. Reflexes are inherent in organisms that have a nervous system. Thanks to reflexes, the body can respond in a timely manner to changes in the external environment or internal state and adapt to them.

There are conditioned and unconditioned reflexes.

Unconditioned reflexes are innate and constant - in response to a certain stimulus, the same reaction always occurs. For example, the sucking reflex in a newborn occurs when the lips are touched.

Unconditioned reflexes form the basis for the development of more complex behavior. On their basis, conditioned reflexes arise, depending on individual experience. For example, a child gets used to a certain feeding time and begins to salivate not only after, but also before eating.

Conditioned reflexes change along with changes in the environment. Thanks to them, the body can quickly adapt its behavior.

The structural basis of reflexes is the reflex arc, consisting of receptors, conducting nerve fibers, interneurons and efferent fibers. The concept of a reflex arc was first introduced by R. Descartes. I.P. Pavlov proved that reflex activity underlies learning and behavior.