Primitive and Postural Childhood Reflexes (CR)

The Central Nervous System is the control centre for all moving, learning and thinking.

Its development commences from conception, in a regular sequence and is the same for all human, regardless of cultural differences.

This regular sequence of developmental stages is identified by the movement patterns, which occur at each stage.

Each of them plays a part in the necessary growth of the foetus or young child, and prepares the way for the next stage of development.

These automatic, instinctual movements’ patterns are how a baby “knows” to do just about anything, from turning in utero, to getting through the birth canal, from bonding to breathing, feeding or crawling.

WHAT ARE THEY?

* Survival reflexes occurring sequentially in the first few weeks of foetal development

* Automatic, stereotyped movements, directed by the very primitive part of the brain.

* Executed without involvement of higher levels of the brain.

* Ideally short lived and as each fulfil its function, is replaced by more sophisticated structures (Postural * Reflexes) which are controlled by the cortex.

* Retained if they do not fulfil their functions.

* Considered aberrant and evidence of immaturity with the central nervous system, if present beyond their * time.

 

What are the consequences?

Under normal circumstances, each set of movements identified as a “reflex”, plays a part and inhibit to be integrated into increasingly complex voluntary, controlled movement.

Many variables however, can interfere with this process, genetic pre disposition, or inherited characteristics, stresses during pregnancy, birth, trauma, or environmental deprivation are but a few examples.

Research has shown that retained primitive reflexes may impede subsequent behaviour, motor control, sensory perception, eye/hand coordination, and cognition.

Check the Courses section for further details on the CR programme.