Human reflexes?

Question

Why do we curl our toes when we're shocked, or cover our mouths?

I assume the hand-to-mouth reflex is to do with vomit, but that may be not true?

Anyone?

Answer 1

It's because of the way our neural networks are arranged. Sensory neurons that detect the shock are connected to motor neurons that initiate the behavioural responses.

Answer 2

The toes thing could have something to do with the natural impulse to retract the body when in danger, thereby reducing the possibility of injury.

The covering the mouth thing could be a similar action, but I can't think of a time I've seen anyone cover his/her mouth in a protective manner.  That makes me think this might be an action with cultural origins (i.e. yawning, coughing, etc.)

Answer 3

Do we in fact curl our toes? I'm usually too busy screaming to notice. If we do perhaps it was from a time when out ancestors lived in trees and we needed to grip the branch more firmly in stressful situations.

Perhaps the hand to the mouth thing is cultural, does every ethnicity in the world do it?