Niki McGlynn
Organised Mind

The primitive reflexes develop during pregnancy or shortly after birth and their role is to assist with the birthing process and the early stages of movement. They develop and become integrated in a particular order allowing the next reflex to emerge. The primitive reflexes are followed by transitional reflexes, then postural reflexes, which allow standing, walking and eventually running.

 

When reflexes don't integrate, they can intefere with normal development. Active reflexes can cause anxiety, allergies, and problems with such diverse issues as digestion, behaviour, reading and writing, concentraion, impulse control, balance and eyesight. 

 

This is a short list of the main reflexes, the approximate order in which they appear, and the problems they can cause!

 

Fear Paralysis Reflex

This is a reflex that develops and integrates during pregnancy. It is considered a withdrawal reflex rtaher than a true primitive reflex and involves the whole of the feotus in times of stress during pregnancy. As it is the earliest of the reflexes to emerge, if it remains active it can intefere with the normal progression of the other reflexes.

 

If the Fear Paralysis Reflex (FPR) remains active it can cause huge problems as it is an integral part of the parasympathetic nervous sysytem - the fight/flight/freeze survivial mechanism, with emphasis on the freeze aspect. Active FPR can interfere with sensory processing, the ability to cope with change, motion sickness, food senitivities and can appear either as withdrawal - no eye contact, elective mutism, passivity or with temper tantrums, particulalrly screaming as the noise shuts out external stimulus.

 

Moro Reflex

 

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (Forwards)

 

Palmer Reflex

 

Hand/Mouth Babkin Reflex

 

Asymetric Tonic Neck Reflex

 

Spinal Galant Reflex

 

Hand Pulling Reflex

 

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (Backwards)

 

Babinski Reflex

 

Landau Reflex

 

Head Righting Reflex

 

Amphibian Reflex

 

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex