Chapter 4 Flashcards
What are reflexive movements? (early motor behaviour)
Stereotypical responses elicited by specific external stimuli
What are the purposes of reflexes?
- built-in responses facilitate survival
- reflexes allow you to interact with your environment
- provide building blocks for future movement
How do primitive reflexes differ from spontaneous movement?
They are a response to a specific stimuli
Explain the stimulus, response and purpose of the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
Stimulus: Turn the baby’s head to one side
Response: Same-side arm and leg extend (while the other side often bends)
Purpose: train muscle tone, hand-eye coordination, balance
When should the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex disappear?
After 6 months
When should the Palmer grasp reflex disappear?
1-3 months
Explain the stimulus, response and purpose of the Symmetrical tonic neck reflex (STNR)
Stimulus: Extend head and neck or flex head and neck (on hands and knees)
Response:Arms extend and legs flex, or arms flex and legs extend
Purpose: development of posture and hand-eye coordination, preparing to crawl
When does the Moro Reflex disappear?
Around 6 months
What are some examples of other primitive reflexes?
- plantar grasping
- rooting/soothing
- babinski
What is the stimulus and response of the Labyrinthine Righting Reflex?
Stimulus: Tilt the infant
Response: head moves to try and stay upright
When does the Labyrinthine Righting Reflex occur?
2-12 months
When does the Parachute reflex appear?
Appears after 4 months
When do we see the Derotative Righting?
Seen after 4 months
What is the stepping reflex?
Holding the infant upright, put soles of feet on a flat surface
The legs will start moving in a walking pattern
When does the stepping reflex disappear?
After 3-4 months
Explain the crawling reflex
- apply pressure to sole of one foot or both feet alternately
- a crawling pattern will be shown in arms and legs
When does the crawling reflex disappear?
A few weeks to months after birth
Explain the swimming reflex
- swimming movement of arms and legs when in/near water
- as early as 11 days old
When does the swimming reflex disappear?
Gone by 5 months
What did Zelazo propose in “Practice stepping reflex with newborns- they walked earlier”
- that the disappearance of the reflex was due to disuse
- there does not need to be period of inhibition before the voluntary skill
- that systemic stimulation of a locomotion reflex could enhance infants’ acquisition of the voluntary locomotor skill
What are some constraints that may affect reflexes and voluntary movement
- heavier legs
- strength of the baby
What constraints exist during the reflexive period?
- leg weight
- strength
- environment
- development of spinal curve
- parents holding them for a long period of time
What are motor milestones?
- fundamental motor skills
- cumulative, sequential
- lead to the development of skilled locomotive patterns
What constraints are motor milestones affected by?
- maturation of the central nervous system
- development of muscular strength and endurance
- development of posture and balance
- improvement of sensory processing
What time period do infants start walking alone?
8-18 months
What time period do infants start standing alone?
7-17.5 months
What time period do infants start walking with assistance?
6-14.5 months
What time period do infants start hands and knees crawling?
5-14 months
What time period do infants start standing with assistance?
5-12 months
What time period do infants start sitting without support?
3.75 - 9.5 months
What time period do infants start to turn from side to back?
0.7-5 months
What time period do infants start to sit with support?
2-5 months
What time period do infants start to turn from back to side?
2-7 months
What time period do infants start unilateral reaching?
4-8 months
What time period do infants start to roll back to front?
4-10 months
What time period do infants start to pull to standing?
5-12 months
What does it mean to be norm referenced?
To compare with previously established norms (and matched on relevant factors, such as age)
What does it mean to be criterion referenced?
To compare where one is on a sequence of skills (when we know skills are acquired in sequence)
What are rate limiters?
Can be individual constraints that inhibit or slow attainment of a motor skill
What is container syndrome?
Constantly moving the baby from one container to the next
- blocking or preventing free motion
- it puts stress on their joints
