Primitive Reflex Profile: A Quantitation of Primitive Reflexes in Infancy

Abstract

This report describes quantitative standardization data on nine primitive reflexes for a cohort of 381 normal infants evaluated longitudinally at each visit between birth and two years of age. Normality was confirmed by the use of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at one year of age. The standardization of this new examination technique complements the traditional infant neurological examination and may allow primitive reflexes to become a useful adjunct to the prediction of motor disability in early infancy.

The Evolution of Primitive Reflexes in Extremely Premature Infants

“…Some subsequent arm flexion appeared at 27 to 28 wk PCA, and was generally present by 31 to 32 wk PCA. A complete Moro was present in more than half the premature infants by 37 wk PCA, and this is similar to full-term neonates (13).…”

“…Capute and associates (10)(11)(12)(13)(14) have graded the primitive reflexes as to strength and completeness of response, and have described their evolution in a longitudinal study of full term Correspondence received May 31, 1985; accepted July 22, 1986. Marilee C. Allen, M.D., CMSC 2 10, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205.…”

“…They are brain-stem mediated, complex automatic movement patterns that are present at birth in full-term infants and, with central nervous system maturation, become more difficult to elicit later in the 1st yr of life, when voluntary motor activity is emerging (10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Although Touwen (1 5 ) has argued that primitive reflexes are neither primitive nor reflexes, he acknowledges that they and their developmental course are useful components of the neurologic examination in infancy.…”

“…The Moro, ATNR, Galant, and positive support were graded in the manner of, or modified from Capute et a/. (10,13). A grading system was developed for the upper and lower extremity grasp reflexes, lower extremity placing, and stepping.…”

Palmar Grasp Reflex in Human Newborns

“…This suggests that (1) the instruments described above were not used with populations that presented neuropsychomotor disorder which could alter the response of palmar grasp reflex; (2) the instruments are not sensitive enough to measure the alterations in palmar grasp reflex, because Capute et al [46] showed that the reflex can present different intensities; (3) many signs are investigated but not all of them interpreted correctly to make any conclusion; (4) the necessity of development and after application of an equipment which quantify the intensity of palmar grasp reflex in different populations is required.…”