Primitive Reflexes
Primitive reflexes are automatic, involuntary movement patterns that originate in the brainstem and emerge during fetal development or shortly after birth. They serve essential survival and developmental functions—helping infants feed, orient to stimuli, and begin organizing movement. Each reflex has a specific role in preparing the nervous system for more complex, voluntary coordination.
As development progresses, these reflexes are meant to integrate—meaning they fade or become inhibited by higher brain centers. When integration occurs successfully, postural reflexes and voluntary movement take over. If primitive reflexes are retained beyond their expected age, they can interfere with balance, coordination, attention, and emotional regulation.
| Reflex | Age of Integration | Role in Upright Coordination | Signs of Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATNR | 4–6 months | Midline orientation, bilateral coordination | Difficulty crossing midline, poor handwriting |
| Moro | 4–6 months | Vestibular activation, emotional regulation | Hypersensitivity, poor balance, anxiety |
| Landau | 12–24 months | Postural tone, trunk extension | Toe-walking, low muscle tone |
| TLR (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex) | ~4 months | Head-body alignment, flexion/extension | Poor posture, spatial disorientation |
| STNR (Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex) | 9–11 months | Crawling, head-body dissociation | Slouched sitting, poor coordination |
| Palmar Grasp | 5–6 months | Hand activation, fine motor prep | Mouth-hand coupling, poor fine motor control |
| Spinal Galant | 3–9 months | Trunk rotation, crawling | Fidgeting, bedwetting, poor sitting posture |