Remember that the persistence of primitive reflexes is a sign that there is damage to the central nervous system (CNS), specifically, a lack of high-level control necessitating a workup for cerebral palsy (CP)
Yolanda Lewis-Ragland MD
What to Do – Interpret the Data
The CNS is the control center for thinking, learning, and moving that develops in a highly organized and regulated sequence from conception. Movement patterns define this sequence at each developmental stage. These patterns are called primitive reflexes, which are important for survival. As the infant matures, the frontal lobes are responsible for suppressing primitive reflexes, but these may reappear during adulthood under certain conditions including dementia, traumatic lesions, and stroke. In infants who fail to suppress the primitive reflexes, CP must be entertained and currently, atypical primitive reflexes are also being investigated as potential early warning signs of Autism spectrum disorders.
Primitive Reflexes are Characterized by:
-
Automatic, stereotyped movements, directed by the brainstem
-
Executed without involvement of higher levels of the brain (the cortex)
-
Short-lived and replaced by more sophisticated structures (postural reflexes) controlled by the cortex once their function is no longer needed
-
Retained if they do not fulfill their function or injury/insult occurs
-
Considered aberrant and evidence of CNS immaturity if present beyond their usual time
What is Cerebral Palsy?
CP is a static encephalopathy caused by an insult to the brain during the prenatal, perinatal, or postnatal period. CP can lead to global dysfunction but always includes motor problems. CP is traditionally classified on the basis of the type of motor disorder. The revised classification now in use defines three main categories of motor disorders: (a) spastic (70%–80%), (b) dyskinetic (10%–15%), and (c) ataxic (<5%).
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
