AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A somatic reflex is an involuntary response to a stimulus, such as pulling one’s hand away after touching a hot stove. The nervous system is split into the central nervous system (i.e., the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (i.e., nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord).

Detailed explanation-2: -The muscle, known as the effector, contracts and pulls the hand away from the hot stove. The hand has now moved away from the hot stove to protect itself. The reflex arc is an automatic response that helps protect the human body. It is a quick response that does not use the brain.

Detailed explanation-3: -For example, if you touch a hot stove, the nerves in your skin shoot a message of pain to your brain. The brain then sends a message back telling the muscles in your hand to pull away. Luckily, this neurological relay race happens in an instant.

Detailed explanation-4: -The brain or spinal cord receives input from these sensory nerve cells, which triggers the motor neurons. The hand muscles receive the signal from the motor neurons to remove the hand from the hot plate. As a result, the reflex to touching a hot plate is to remove one’s hand and hence is a response.

Detailed explanation-5: -In the above example, the stimulus is the contact with the hot pot. This contact causes a nerve impulse that will travel to the spinal cord via the sensory neurons.