Reflex Actions & Modifying Reflex Actions

Question 1

What is a reflex action?

Answer 1

It is a fast, automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus.

Question 2

What is the first step in the pathway for a reflex arc?

Answer 2

1. A receptor is stimulated

Question 3

What is the second step in the pathway for a reflex arc?

Answer 3

2. This causes impulses to pass along a sensory neuron into the spinal cord

Question 4

What is the third step in the pathway for a reflex arc?

Answer 4

3. The sensory neuron synapses with a relay neuron, by-passing the brain

Question 5

What is the fourth step in the pathway for a reflex arc?

Answer 5

4. The relay neuron synapses with a motor neuron, sending impulses to the effectors

Question 6

What is the fifth step in the pathway for a reflex arc?

Answer 6

5. The effectors respond

Question 7

What do simple reflexes like these ensure?

Answer 7

That an animal automatically responds to a stimulus in a way that helps it to survive

Question 8

Give examples of this

Answer 8

Finding food
Sheltering predators
Finding a mate

Question 9

What does the fixed pathway of neurons allow?

Answer 9

Very rapid response as there isn’t any processing of the information by the brain

Question 10

What is a result of reflex actions?

Answer 10

The majority of behavior displayed by simple animals.

Question 11

What is the disadvantage of this?

Answer 11

Animals have difficulty responding to new situations