What are reflexes?

Most of the movements we make are completely under our control, but some the reflex actions, are not. A reflex action is an automatic response to a stimulus, for example pain, and we cannot control it at all.

If you were to touch something very hot, your hand would automatically be pulled away before you had realised that it was burning. This is because the nerves in your hand send a message to the brain, which immediately sends back the message which pulls the hand away all in a split second. Other examples of reflex actions are blinking when a spec of grit gets in the eye, and the way your mouth waters when you think of certain foods.