Primitive Reflexes — ATNR, STNR, TLR, Galant

What are the stimulus, response, and normal age of the ATNR?

• Stimulus:

  • Head turned to one side

• Response:

  • Face-side arm and leg extend

  • Skull-side arm and leg flex

• Normal age:

  • Birth to 6 months

What problems can persistent ATNR cause?

• Interferes with:

  • Feeding

  • Visual tracking

  • Midline hand use

  • Bilateral hand use

  • Rolling

  • Crawling

• May contribute to:

  • Scoliosis

  • Hip subluxation/dislocation

What are the stimulus, response, and normal age of the STNR?

• Stimulus:

  • Head flexion or extension

• Head flexion:

  • Arms flex

  • Legs extend

• Head extension:

  • Arms extend

  • Legs flex

• Normal age:

  • 6 to 8 months

What can persistent STNR interfere with?

• Prone propping

• Hands-and-knees position

• Reciprocal crawling

• Sitting balance while looking around

• Functional use of hands in sitting

What are the stimulus, response, and normal age of the tonic labyrinthine reflex?

• Stimulus:

  • Position of labyrinth/head

• Supine:

  • Body and extremities tend toward extension

• Prone:

  • Body and extremities tend toward flexion

• Normal age:

  • Birth to 6 months

What are the stimulus, response, and normal age of the Galant reflex?

• Stimulus:

  • Stroke skin alongside spine from shoulder to hip

• Response:

  • Lateral trunk flexion toward stimulated side

• Normal age:

  • About 30 weeks gestation to 2 months