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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders pp 2368–2369Cite as

Primitive Reflexes

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Synonyms

Innate reflexes

Definition

Primitive reflexes are patterns of movement that are evoked by specific sensory input. They are complex, automatic movements controlled by the brainstem that can be seen as early as the 25th week of gestation. The primitive reflexes are considered a normal part of infant movement (Zafeiriou, 2004). The primitive reflexes include the Moro (a distinctive startle response), the walking/stepping, the rooting, the sucking, the tonic neck (arm straightening in response to turning of the head), the palmar grasp, the plantar or Babinski (toe curling when the sole of the foot is stimulated), the Galant (sideward flexing of the back toward stimulation), the swimming, and the Babkin (head and facial responses to pressure to both palms) reflexes. During the first year of life, the reflexes typically disappear or are more difficult to elicit and their persistence or appearance after infancy is thought to be due to reduced inhibition of brainstem reflexes by the...

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References and Readings

  • De Bildt, A., Mulder, E. J., Van Lang, N. D. J., De With, S. A. J., Minderaa, R. M., & Anderson, G. M. (2012). The visual rooting reflex in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and co-occurring intellectual disability. Autism Research, 5(1), 67–72.

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  • Go, T., & Konishi, Y. (2008). Neonatal oral imitation in patients with severe brain damage. PLoS One, 3(11), e3668.

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  • Ingram, T. T. S. (1962). Clinical significance of the infantile feeding reflexes. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 4, 159–169.

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  • Minderaa, R. B., Volkmar, F. R., Hansen, C. R., Harcherik, D. F., Akkerhuis, G. W., & Cohen, D. J. (1985). Brief report: Snout and visual rooting reflexes in infantile autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 15(4), 409–416.

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  • Schott, J. M., & Rossor, M. N. (2003). The grasp and other primitive reflexes. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 74(5), 558–560.

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  • Turner, C., & Schon, F. (2006). Visually-evoked rooting, a fascinating primitive reflex. Practical Neurology, 6, 358–359.

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  • Zafeiriou, D. I. (2004). Primitive reflexes and postural reactions in the neurodevelopmental examination. Pediatric Neurology, 31(1), 1–8.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 660, 9700, AR Accare, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Dr. Annelies de Bildt

  2. Laboratory of Developmental Neurochemistry, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, 230 South Frontage Road, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Dr. George M. Anderson (Director Research Neurochemistry laboratory)

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Accare, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Dr. Ruud Minderaa

Authors
  1. Dr. Annelies de Bildt
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  2. Dr. George M. Anderson
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  3. Dr. Ruud Minderaa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annelies de Bildt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology Yale University School of Medicine, Chief, Child Psychiatry Children's Hospital at Yale-New Haven Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar (Director, Child Study Center) (Director, Child Study Center)

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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de Bildt, A., Anderson, G.M., Minderaa, R. (2013). Primitive Reflexes. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1560

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1560

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1697-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1698-3

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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