Re: Why do we still (in evolutionary terms) have some of our reflexes?

Mikael,

  All reflexes are very necessary!  They represent what I refer to as a 
"basic movement unit!"  They work to maintain a basic homeostasis 
(equilibruium).  Without the reflexes you mention you would be unable to 
maintain balance, to properly digest food, to have a response to fear, to 
protect yourself from a sudden painful stimulus, etc., ETC.!  Therefore, 
evolutionarily speaking, reflexes are highly advantageous, for without them
you would die.

  It's nice that physicians can test the nervous system through these 
reflexes because the tests help to isolate a particular nervous pathway for 
a specific problem.  That's why the test are performed!  For instance, 
testing the pupillary response (eyes become contracted when light hit them) 
isolates the problem to a specific part of the midbrain in the 
Westphal-Edinger nucleus as well as testing pathways that cross over as 
well as testing the oculomotor cranial nerve.  If the pupillary response is 
not working, then the tester can know that there is a problem in those 
specific areas.