If you accidentally touch a very hot object, you will jerk away without thinking about what action to take. This is a reflex action. It is an automatic or involuntary movement brought about by a sensory stimulus. Reflex actions are of two types - unconditioned and conditioned reflexes.
Unconditioned reflexes are part of the basic bodily functions which are not dependent on one's past experiences with a particular type of stimulus. For example, the pupils of our eyes automatically expand in the dark and contract in the light.
Conditioned reflexes are reflexes which one learns from previous experiences with a similar stimulus. These reflexes work by one learning to associate the stimulus with something else. For example, a dog may begin to salivate with smell of food because the dog has learnt to associate the smell with the food.
Let's look at some unconditioned reflexes in babies.
Test Your Science
1. Name 3 types of reflex actions mentioned in the video clip.
Find out more about reflex actions in a game of football in the Young Scientists Issue 114 Level 2.
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