Unit 7 Flashcards
What is an infant reflex
An involuntary subcortical steretypical response to a stimulus
Subcortical is
below the level of the higher brain centers
Stereotypical is
patterned
When do most infant reflexes occur
First 4 months after birth
and
Last 4 months of prenatal life
Infant reflexes dont go beyond a
first year
Lifespan reflexes are
two examples are
enduring reflexes such as:
Knee jerk reflex
Flexor withdrawal reflex
Why are infant reflexes important (3)
Survival
Foundation for future movement
Used for Diagnosis
What are the two categories of infant reflexes
Postural
Primitive
What do postural reflexes do
Provide automatic movement that is practice for future voluntary movement - e.g. walking reflex
What happens to postural reflexes over time
disappear due to voluntary behaviour surfacing
What is the future voluntary movement that is seen in the infant reflex of Crawling
Crawling
What is the future voluntary movement that is seen in the infant reflex of Labyrinthine
Upright posture
What is the future voluntary movement that is seen in the infant reflex of Palmar grasp
Grasping
What is the future voluntary movement that is seen in the infant reflex of Stepping
Walking
What are Primitive reflexes
Aid in survival via protection and nourishment
What reflexes are used as diagnostic tools
Moro reflex
Asymmetric tonic neck reflex
What is the Milani Comparetti NeuromotorDevelopment Examination
A test to measure several infant reflexes from birth to 2 years
What is the primitive reflex of palmar grasp reflex (3)
- One of the most noticeable reflex
- Endures through 4 months
- Leads to voluntary reaching + grasping
What is the primitive reflex of sucking reflex (2)
- Occurs pre and post natally
2. Stimulated by touching the lips
What is the primitive reflex of search reflex (3)
- Helps baby locate nourishment
- Baby turns head towards food
- Contributes to head and body righting reflexes
What is the primitive reflex of Moro (3)
- Same stimuli as the startle reflex
- Precedes the startle reflex and causes the arms and legs to extend immediately rather than flex
- Disappears 4-6 months
What is the startle reflex (4)
- Similar to Moro reflex
- May not appear until 2-3 months after Moro disappears
- Caused by a rapid change of head position or by striking the surface that supports the baby
- causes the arms and legs to flex immediately
What is the primitive reflex of Asymmetric tonic neck reflex (2)
- Causes flexion on one side and extension on the other
2. Not always seen in newborn
What is the primitive reflex of Symmetric tonic neck reflex
- Limbs respond symmetrically
2. Its persistence may impede other motor milestones
What happens if you tip the baby forward as they are seated during the symmetric tonic neck reflex (3)
Neck flexes
Arms flex
Legs Extend
What happens if you tip the baby backward as they are seated during the symmetric tonic neck reflex (3)
Neck extends
Arms extend
Legs flex
What is the primitive reflex of Plantar grasp reflex (3)
- Toes grasp
- Stimulus is touching the ball of foot
- Must disappear before the baby can stand or walk
What is the primitive reflex of Babinski reflex (2)
- Stimulus similar to plantar grasp
2. Test of the pyramidal tract activity for later movement
What is the primitive reflex of Palmar mandibular reflex (Babkin reflex)
(4)
- Eyes close
- Mouth opens
- Head tilts forward
- Stimulus is pressure to both palms
What is the primitive reflex of Palmer mental reflex (2)
- Facial response when the base of the palm is scratched
2. Lower jaw opens and closes
What are all of the primitive reflexes (11)
- Palmer grasp
- Sucking
- Search
- Moro
- Startle
- Asymmetric tonic neck
- Symmetric tonic neck
- Plantar grasp
- Babinski
- Palmar mandibular
- Palmar mental
What are the postural reflexes (7)
- Stepping
- Crawling
- Swimming
- Head and body Righting
- Parachuting
- Labyrinthine
- Pull up
What is the postural reflex of Crawling (2)
- Essential to voluntary creeping
2. Observed from birth to 3-4 months
What is the postural reflex of Swimming (2)
- Swimming-like movements when held in a horizontal position
- Somewhat controversial
What is the postural reflex of Head and Body righting reflex (3)
- Head “rights” itself with the body when the body is turned to one side
- Precursor to rolling movements
- Body righting may not be evident before month 5
What is the postural reflex of Parachuting reflex (2)
- Propping
- Related to upright posture
- This reflex appears to be a “conscious” attempt to break a fall
What is the postural reflex of Ladyrinthine reflex (3)
- Endures throughout most of the first year
- Related to upright posture
- Head tilts in the opposite direction of body tilt
What is the postural reflex of Pull up reflex
When the baby is tipped back, the arms flex to maintain the upright position
What are the characteristics of stereotypies (7)
- Observable during infancy
- Patterened
- Stereotyped
- Intrinsic
- Involuntary movements of the body
- Rhythmical
- Believed to precede more complex voluntary movements
Who “coined” stereotypies
Esther Thelen
She grouped stereotypies into what body regions (5)
- Legs and Feet
- Hands and Arms
- Fingers
- Torso
- Head and face
