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Zoe Fuller-Young's picture

Multiple ways?

I am still not exactly clear how the reafferent loops influence the input and output, and how the output can change input, but I would like to comment on our ending remarks in class. We spoke about the knee reflex, and how the stretch reflex is unusual. Then we looked at an earthworm and the thoeries about its stretch reflex. We concluded that the earthworm may have a stretch reflex, but can also still function (move forward) without the connection needed for the stretch reflex. Therefore, are there really multiple ways in which our nervous system can produce the same output? (assuming it is inside, input, that is dictating output, ie muscle movement) How does this correlate to humans? If our spinal cord is severed, are there ways of repairing it? I have heard of paralysis recuperation, is this like the earth worm being partially cut?

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