Mechanism of Reflex Action and Explanation of Taxis

Biology | Zoology Notes
Mechanism of Reflex Action and Explanation of Taxis | Animal Behavior
Class : 11

The movement or response of animal with their environment is called animal behavior. There are three types of animal behavior. 

Reflex action 

The quick or immediate response toward stimulus is called reflex action. This is automatic or unconscious. The reflex action is also known as automatic response. There are two types of reflex action:

Simple reflexes : Simple reflexes are inborn or unlearned, for example closing of eyes when an object approaches and secretion of saliva in mouth seeing sweet or sour food. 

Conditional reflexes : The responses brought about by learning or experiences, for example ringing a bell and secretion of saliva in dog.

Mechanism of Reflex Action 

The centre of reflex action is spinal cord ; The afferent fiber or sensory fiber enters the spinal cord through the dorsal root and carry the impulse from the effectors organ to spinal cord. The efferent fiber or motor fiber passes through the ventral root and carries impulses away from the spinal cord to the effectors organ. The adjustor neuron in spinal cord communicates between afferent and efferent neuron. 

Taxis 

The movement of animals towards or away from the stimulus is called the taxis. The taxis may be negative or positive. The movement away from stimulus is called negative taxis and the movement towards the stimulus is called positive taxis. 

Thermotaxis: it is response to the stimulus of temperature. For example during winter we attract toward heat and in summer we go away from the heat. 

Phototaxis: it is the response to stimulus of light. For example, the cockroach and earthworm go away from the light. The euglena move towards light. 

Geotaxis: the response to stimulus of gravity is called geotaxis. Earth worm move deep into the soil. 

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