X-Nico

unusual facts about withdrawal reflex



Reciprocal innervation

A common example of reciprocal innervation, is the effect of the nociceptive (or nocifensive) reflex, or defensive response to pain, otherwise commonly known as the withdrawal reflex; a type of involuntary action of the body to remove the body part from the vicinity of an offending object by contracting the appropriate muscles (usually flexor muscles), while relaxing the extensor muscles.


see also

Synaptic fatigue

One specific example is that the gill withdrawal reflex of the Aplysia is caused by homosynaptic depression.