Primary or primitive reflexes are involuntary movements activated by a sensory trigger typically seen in infants or others with atypical neurology. Typically these primary, infant reflexes have a protective and developmental effect for the very young child. As the sensory-motor cortex of the brain matures, typically the primary reflexes are inhibited. Later, as the voluntary motor system develops, reflexive motor patterns may be used for strength and stability, as well as emotional expression. As the result of trauma before, during or after birth, the primary reflexes may come out of integration or may have never become integrated. It is not generally known what role genetics plays in reflex retention.
There are three basic types of reflex integration: isometric, passive/active positions and activity based. The isometric based approach has been developed by Svetlana Masgutova and others. The practice includes activating the particular muscles used in a reflexive response and holding them voluntarily so the motor cortex can gain control and develop an inhibiting ability over them.
The passive/active positions are simple sustaining the position of the reflex posture and moving from the contraction to the extension position. These postures also allow the motor cortex to differentiate these patterns and integrate the patterns.
The activity based programs, included in the work of INPP and many other groups, use games and higher level activities that include some or all of the motor patterns of one or more reflexes.
All the types of reflex integration help the motor cortex to differentiate and inhibit primary reflex patterns. Other techniques may be included to augment the integration work. Massages, with specific sensory or motor goals, are often necessary to gain symmetry and relaxation for some muscle groups. Sensory work is also often needed to regulate and organize the body senses to complete the integration of the sensory-motor systems.
3 comments:
I am an LPC and work with traumatized children. I have studied neurodevelopment and sensory integration for years. I learned about the moro reflex and PTSD from one of your posts today. Thanks so much. I look forward to reading more.
Hi there, I stumbled on your blog while looking up information on motor reflexes and appreciated your post here. 2 Questions, if you don't mind.
1 Are you familiar with Hanna Somatic Education?
2 While I agree with you that sensory wok is important, I find that sensory activation is a happy biproduct of improved motor functioning. Not sure if there's much research out there showing that(that's partly why I'm googling). But have you seen evidence that Sensory work needs to be done as a stand alone therapy?
Hi Gabriel, I know about somatic education generally and specifically the work of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. The Sensory-Motor system is a feedback loop. In reality they are more like a Mobius strip; seemingly two, but really one. Take the Gravity sense, the sense organ is the semi-circular canals. If the sense organ is traumatized the sense is not registering. Motor work hones the sensory input, but one may need work dealing physically with the inner ear. Another area is tactility. Touch is a trigger for many reflexes. I found at times that work with differing types of tactile receptors can be very useful. Of course when touching, movement of a type is happening: stretch, deep pressure, vibration. I find that most systems improve more quickly if the sensory and the motor components are addressed. I sound like a Zen cone: when is a movement not a movement? All senses depend on movement to develop, but the senses trigger the movement development.
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