So why are we able to move (or seem to move) lightning fast when we have a reflex, but we are unable to move that fast and acutely at will?
In: Biology
Nerve impulses take longer to travel when there are more synapses between neurons to cross. The reflex arc in your arm would travel to the spine then back to muscles in the arm with few synapses, so a stimulus would cause a reletavely immediate reaction. If you consciously wanted to move your arm, youd need to send a signal thriugh many more synapses in the brain and spine to get to finally get to the arm muscles, delaying the movement.
Latest Answers