Can we override our reflexes?

Yes, it is possible to override our reflexes using the brain's top-down processing. Andrew Huberman explains that the prefrontal cortex, which handles top-down processing, allows us to suppress or control reflexes. For example, you might typically withdraw your foot if you step on a tack, but you could consciously decide to keep your foot on the tack despite the immediate impulse to pull away 1.

Furthermore, Andrew Huberman mentions that our ability to override reflexes involves high-level neural circuits that can override lower-level, hardwired responses. This can be crucial in situations where immediate reflexive actions might be inappropriate or dangerous, like holding a hot teacup without dropping it in a socially delicate situation 2.

Overall, this ability to override reflexive actions is a testament to the brain's complex interplay between automatic and deliberate actions, mediated by neural circuits designed for survival and appropriate behavior adjustment 3 2.