unconditioned reflex
- noun
- /ˌʌnkənˈdɪʃənd ˈriːflɛks/
- Specialized
:
reflejo incondicionado
- Babies are born with several unconditioned reflexes, such as sucking and grasping.
Examples
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The knee-jerk reaction at the doctor is an example of an unconditioned reflex.
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The unconditioned reflex of blinking protects the eyes.
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An unconditioned reflex does not require any prior training or learning to appear.
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An unconditioned reflex occurs without any prior learning.
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An unconditioned reflex occurs automatically when a stimulus triggers a response without any learning.
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Newborns exhibit several unconditioned reflexes, including sucking and grasping, right after birth.
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When the doctor taps your knee, the sudden kick is an unconditioned reflex that requires no prior training.
Synonyms
54
3.7
A quick action you do without thinking in response to something
2
3.4
A quick movement your body makes without thinking, for example pulling your hand from something hot
1
4.5
An automatic body response to something that affects it, like sweating or a faster heartbeat
An automatic action your body makes without thinking when something touches or moves near you
A quick action you do without thinking
An automatic body response to a touch or sound that happens without thinking
An automatic action your body makes without being taught
An automatic action a baby does without learning
Antonyms
- Specialized
1
5.3
An automatic response learned when a neutral sound or sign is repeatedly paired with something that naturally causes it
How Conditioned
- Specialized
1
5.3
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'unconditioned' specifies that something is not learned/occurs automatically and 'reflex' is an automatic bodily response, so together they mean an automatic response without prior conditioning. This adjective+noun composition is compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will comprehend it.
Etymology
Unconditioned reflex combines unconditioned (meaning 'not trained') and reflex (an 'automatic' action). It names responses like a baby's sucking or the knee-jerk that happen on their own, so it means a reaction that occurs without any prior learning.