How does positive taxis differ from negative taxis?

In the study of stereotyped responses, a taxis is an oriented locomotory reaction where a motile organism adjusts its body position or direction in response to an environmental stimulus, such as light, chemicals, or gravity.12

The difference between positive and negative taxis is defined by the direction of the organism's movement relative to the source of the stimulus:

• Positive Taxis: The organism moves toward the source of the stimulus.12
• Negative Taxis: The organism moves away from the source of the stimulus.12

These movements are considered reflex actions of the entire organism, where the body orients itself in line with the stimulus source. Depending on the species and the sensory receptors involved, this orientation may be achieved through trial movements (such as swinging the head to compare intensities) or through direct, automatic adjustments based on simultaneous comparisons of stimulation across the body.2