Exploring a Common Reflex of the Eyes

Today in class we are learning about nerves and how they send messages. We did an experiment to experience the reactions. The experiment was to hold up a plastic sheet and for your partner to through a paper ball at the sheet. While we were doing this we were observing each others reactions. When the ball was thrown at us our body responded by flinching and scrunching up our eyes. If we weren't holding up the paper we would probably jolt up our arms and try protect our eyes. I think that the nervous system reacted different then when we dropped the ruler because when we dropped the ruler we snatched up our hand in order to catch the ruler. When we got thrown at with the ball we blinked protecting our selves. But, if we didn't have the sheet I think the reaction would've been the same because we would've scrunched up our body and block the ball even though it wouldn't hurt.