Explain what a reflex is and why it is faster than a normal response.
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: A reflex is an automatic, rapid response to a stimulus that does not require the brain to make a decision. It is faster because the signal travels only to the spinal cord and back, skipping the brain. For example, when a doctor taps your knee, the signal goes to the spinal cord, which immediately sends a signal back to the leg muscle to kick — no thinking required.
Reflexes are a survival mechanism — they protect the body from harm before the brain even registers what happened. The shorter signal path (sensory nerve → spinal cord → motor nerve, bypassing the brain) is why reflexes are faster than deliberate responses.