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
