Types of Reflexes

Reflex is involuntary response to a stimuli. Reflexes are classified on various basis as explained below:

Based on the Type or Function of Reflex

Based on the movement of the organs or body part that move due to the reflex, the type of reflex can be classified as:

Motor Reflexes: Involve the contraction of muscles in response to a stimulus. Examples include the patellar reflex (knee-jerk) and withdrawal reflex.
Sensory Reflexes: Involve a response to sensory stimuli without necessarily causing muscle contraction. Examples include the pupillary reflex (response to light) and accommodation reflex (adjustment of the lens for near vision).
Conditioned Reflexes: Learned or acquired through experience and conditioning. Examples include classical conditioning responses, like Pavlov’s experiments with dogs.
Neonatal Reflexes: This is a type of reflex in newborns and typically disappear as the nervous system matures. Examples include the rooting reflex (turning the head when cheek is touched) and the grasp reflex (grabbing an object placed in the palm).
Gastrointestinal Reflexes: Control processes related to digestion and the gastrointestinal tract. Examples include peristalsis and gastrocolic reflex (stimulation of the colon by the presence of food in the stomach).
Cardiovascular Reflexes: Regulate blood pressure and heart rate. Examples include the baroreceptor reflex (responding to changes in blood pressure) and the Bainbridge reflex (adjusting heart rate in response to changes in venous return).
Visual Reflexes: Involve responses related to vision and eye movements. Examples include the pupillary light reflex and the accommodation reflex.

Also Read: Difference Between Plasma and Blood

Based on the Degree of Complexity

Based on the degree of complexity of the neuron or nerve organization within the reflex arcs the reflex can be classified as:

Simple Reflexes: It involves a direct connection between sensory and motor neurons and is characterized by a quick and automatic response. Examples include the patellar reflex and the withdrawal reflex.
Complex Reflexes: It involves additional interneurons in the reflex arc that makes the pathway more complex. It is characterised by prolonged response and involve multiple muscle groups. Examples include the crossed extensor reflex and the withdrawal reflex during a balance-demanding activity.
Polysynaptic Reflexes:It involves several synapses in the neural pathway and signal processing includes the participation of interneurons. Examples include the withdrawal reflexes and some types of postural reflexes.
Adaptive Reflexes: Reflexes that can be modified through experience and learning. The neural circuitry may adapt based on repeated exposure to certain stimuli. Examples include reflexes involved in skilled motor activities, such as playing a musical instrument.
Hierarchical Reflexes: Reflexes organized in a hierarchical manner, involving higher and lower centers of the nervous system. Higher brain centers may influence lower-level reflex arcs. Examples include complex motor patterns coordinated by the brain, such as those seen in sports or skilled movements.

Also Read: Protection of the Central Nervous System

Based on the Development

Based on their development that is when they emerge in an individual’s life, reflex can be classified as:

Primitive Reflexes: Present in infants from birth and disappear as the nervous system matures. Examples include the rooting reflex, Moro reflex, and grasping reflex.
Postural Reflexes: Develop as the nervous system matures that supporting more advanced motor control and balance. It Include reflexes that aid in maintaining posture and equilibrium. Examples include the neck-righting reflex and the labyrinthine reflex.
Labyrinthine Reflexes: It involve responses to changes in head position and movement and contribute to the development of balance and spatial orientation. Example includes the labyrinthine head-righting reflex.
Protective Reflexes: Reflex emerge as a response to potential harm or danger in the environment and include reflexes that protect the body from injury. Examples include the withdrawal reflex and the blinking reflex.
Voluntary or Learned Reflexes: Develop with the acquisition of motor skills and learning experiences and involve higher levels of neural processing and conscious control. Examples include learned motor responses, like catching a ball or playing a musical instrument.
Adaptive Reflexes: Develop through experience and exposure to various stimuli. It include reflexes that can be modified based on learning and adaptation to the environment. Examples include conditioned reflexes, where an individual learns to associate a specific stimulus with a particular response.

Also Read: Motor Neuron: Diagram, Characteristics and Diseases

Based on the Response

Based on the nature of their response, reflex can be classified as:

Motor Reflexes: Involve the contraction of muscles in response to a stimulus. Examples include the knee-jerk reflex (patellar reflex) and withdrawal reflex.
Autonomic Reflexes: It control involuntary functions of internal organs and glands. Examples include reflexes regulating heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.
Sensory Reflexes: It involve responses to sensory stimuli without necessarily causing muscle contraction. Examples include the pupillary light reflex and the accommodation reflex.
Glandular Reflexes: Reflex trigger secretions from glands in response to specific stimuli. Examples include salivary reflexes in response to the smell or taste of food.
Vasomotor Reflexes: Regulate blood flow in response to changes in the environment or physiological needs. Examples include reflexes controlling blood vessel diameter in response to temperature changes.
Pupillary Reflexes: Reflex control the size of the pupils in response to light or changes in focal distance. Examples include the pupillary light reflex and the accommodation reflex.
Digestive Reflexes: It control movements and secretions in the digestive system in response to ingested food. Examples include peristalsis and gastrocolic reflexes.
Superficial Reflexes: Involve stimulation of the skin or mucous membranes. Examples include the plantar reflex (Babinski reflex) and abdominal reflexes.

Also Read: Difference Between Peristalsis and Segmentation