The Spinal Perez Reflex is the basis for whole body coordination and development, especially for the links between the limbs and head through the core of the body, both front and back. This reflex influences the development of spine movements for extension, flexion, and stretching, and supports spine postural control.
The reflex is elicited with the baby lying in prone position on a hard surface, e. g., an examination table or mattress, or held face down on the examiner's hand. Using moderate pressure, the examiner runs his index finger or thumb along the spine from the pelvis upward to the neck.
The Spinal Perez reflex is a primitive reflex that emerges at birth and is integrated between three and six months after delivery. Stroking upwards from the tailbone to the top of the spine causes the baby to lift his head and bottom, bend the thoracic spine backwards and bend lower limbs.
The Spinal Galant Reflex
Its purpose is to encourage movement and develop range of motion in the hip in preparation for walking and crawling. Some authorities also believe that it prompts urination, and that this is why babies often urinate when the diaper is secured around their hips.
Tonic neck reflex or "fencing" posture
It disappears at five to seven months of age. Both the Moro and tonic neck reflexes should be present equally on both sides of the body.
The STNR reflex helps your infant learn to move the top half and the bottom half of their body independently from each other. The symmetric tonic neck reflex is commonly referred to as the “crawling reflex” because it allows your baby to make the transition from laying down to getting up on their hands and knees.
The other reflex closely linked to ADHD, known as the Spinal Galant reflex, occurs when an infant's back is stroked. The infant will arch her hips toward the touch, a motion that is believed to encourage her to progress toward crawling.
Spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary, and predictable responses to specific stimuli that are mediated by the spinal cord without requiring input from the brain. They occur as automatic, involuntary responses to stimuli generated within the nervous system.
Rooting reflex
This reflex starts when the corner of the baby's mouth is stroked or touched. The baby will turn their head and open their mouth to follow and root in the direction of the stroking. This helps the baby find the breast or bottle to start feeding. This reflex lasts about 4 months.
Stepping Reflex
This cute reflex is also called the walking or dancing reflex. Stepping reflex happens when you hold the baby upright with his/her feet touching a flat surface.
There are different types of reflexes, including a stretch reflex, Golgi tendon reflex, crossed extensor reflex, and a withdrawal reflex.
The Spinal Galant is developed in utero at approximately 20 weeks. It should be fully developed at birth and should integrate (go away) between 3-9 months of age.
You will see the reflex in an infant if you gently stroke down one side of the lower part of the spine. The baby's arms and legs will sway toward the direction of the stroke almost like being ticklish. If both sides of the spine are stroked at the same time it induces urination.
The Difference between Moro and Startle Reflex
The startle reaction is induced by an auditory stimulus which shows clear habituation in premature infants, whereas the Moro reflex does not stimulate due to any auditory cues.
Children with learning disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum, and various other neurodevelopmental disorders are known to have retained primitive reflexes contributing to their symptoms and level of dysfunction.
Stimming can take many different forms: visual: staring off into space, drawing, spinning things like pens or coins. verbal/auditory: repeating sounds, excessive giggling, constantly clearing throat. tactile: rubbing fingers, chewing/biting nails, chewing the inside of cheeks.
Some signs that you might be understimulated include: Lack of motivation. Physical hyperactivity. A sense of unease, making you feel "flat" or irritable.
Bored or under-stimulated ADHD brains may become restless and demand an immediate reward and more stimulation. While you may think your child's fidgeting, noise, laughter, yelling, or conflict-making behaviors are inappropriate and unprovoked, their under-aroused brains, needing stimulation, are demanding it.
Asymmetric tonic neck reflex, or ATNR, is one of the primitive reflexes that babies experience as part of brain development. These reflexes are crucial because they help your baby to survive and thrive. ATNR presents as consistent, one-sided movements of the body that go together with proper hand-eye harmonization.
Studies have found that retained ATNR may negatively affect children's reading capabilities, hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, handwriting (including an excessively tight grip), translation of ideas into written text and often lead to dyslexia.
The stepping reflex in babies is exactly what it sounds like: If you hold your newborn up facing forward and let her feet lightly touch a flat surface, she'll take steps as if she were walking. If you do this at home, keep your hands under her arms and try to support her neck and head with your thumbs.