Reflex activity can be modified by the cerebral cortex. For example, you are baking a roast in the oven. As you are moving the roast from the oven to the counter, hot juices splash you. Reflex activity would cause you to drop the pan, but you hold on to it. Explain how the cerebral cortex overrides the reflex.

Question

Camryn Liu

Biology

13 December, 21:57

Reflex activity can be modified by the cerebral cortex. For example, you are baking a roast in the oven. As you are moving the roast from the oven to the counter, hot juices splash you. Reflex activity would cause you to drop the pan, but you hold on to it. Explain how the cerebral cortex overrides the reflex.

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Answers (1)

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Danica Bauer · Answer 1

There are different types of reflexes, and some of them can be controlled voluntarily due to cortical processing.

Explanation:

Even if there is an initial myotactic reflex of moving away from the heat, the cortical processing that is subject to learning makes you not let go of the pan. It should be noted that there are different types of reflexes, and not all postural reactions are automatic. The cerebral cortex influences voluntary postural adjustment movements. Such control is mainly performed by the brain stem, where ocurrs the modulation of motor neurons and spinal cord interneurons through the lateral descending (fine movements) and medial (posture and balance) downward pathways.