What are Primitive Reflexes?
Our bodies are full of reflexes - automatic movements our body makes without our conscious control. The earliest reflexes that develop in our bodies are called Primitive Reflexes which begin emerging at 5 weeks' gestation.
They are essential for a foetus’ survival and work to develop our neurology, facilitate the birth process, develop our stress response, develop our movement repertoire and 'wire-up' the brain fully from brain stem to prefrontal cortex.
The Reflex Journey
Up to 12 months of age, primitive reflexes emerge, develop and perform their set function for the overall developmental process.
They are then mostly integrated or “switched off” to lie dormant in the brain stem. Regularly however, these primitive reflexes are actually retained and remain active in the body.
Sometimes, even if primitive reflexes have integrated in childhood, they reactivate as a survival response to trauma or neurological conditions such as Dementia and Parkinson's Disease.
Common Challenges of Retained Reflexes
- Attention, focus and concentration
- Bed wetting
- Hyperactivity, impulsivity
- Learning difficulties
- Feeling 'stuck'
- Co-ordination and movement difficulties
- Low endurance
- Emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, fearfulness
- Sensory processing challenges
- Chronic tension, aches and pains
- Inability to regulate stress response
- Trauma recovery
- Poor posture, low tone
- Visual or auditory difficulties
- Language difficulties
- Handwriting difficulties