- A type of animal used for the purpose of investigating the reflexive response
- These animals have their spinal cord surgically disconnected from their brain

Spinal Animals 

- Reflex variability is based on the neural pathway that they take part in 
- Some reflexes have short pathways that link the dorsal roots (which transmit sensory information) and ventral roots (which possess muscle fibers) 
- Other reflexes have longer pathways, which connect specific regions of the brain with the spinal cord, or various regions of the spinal cord together 

Types of Reflexes 

- A chain of reflexes cannot account for our normal behavior, because they lack an ability to anticipate or plan for a certain response 
- In speech, individuals may mess up a word because they are thinking about a sound they will make later on 
- When reflexes trigger one another, this problem would not occur, because there is no sense of planning, but only reactionary events  

Reflexes and Behavior 

- A simple response to a certain stimulus that is not learned by the organism through experience

Smith College

- When thinking about how a behavior is initiated, researchers have questioned whether it is reflexive (meaning it is caused by a chain of events without intentionality) or planned (which is defined by a motor plan)

Sequence of Initiating Behavior 

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

- A series of commands targeted to the muscles, which occurs before a behavior has been initiated 
- Illustrates that everyday behavior is planned, although commands may change based upon the outside response to a behavior 
- Can be measured with electromyography 

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