FIGURE 2.9 A Spinal Reflex A spinal reflex is a simple, involuntary behavior that is processed in the spinal cord without brain involvement. If you accidentally shock yourself by using a metal fork to pry a bagel out of a plugged-in toaster, you’ll instantly pull your hand away from the painful stimulus—an example of the withdrawal reflex. The sequence shown here illustrates how the withdrawal reflex can occur before the brain processes the conscious perception of pain.