a doctor uses a small reflex hammer to tap the patient's knee while they sit on an examination table. The patient's leg kicks forward automatically in an involuntary reflex response. The doctor observes and takes notes about this physical reaction on a clipboard. The patient looks surprised by their own automatic body movement that happened without conscious thought. Other medical equipment like a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff sit nearby on a counter. bodily responses that occur independently from conscious mental control