
- When the head bends forward (flexion), the arms bend, and the legs straighten.
- When the head bends back (extension), the arms straighten, and the legs bend.
The integration of neuroscience and biochemistry with classical oriental medicine for the treatment of neurological disease and trauma has become my life's work. (c) Polyvagal Acupuncture 2024
The Toe Grasp Reflex appears at birth and typically integrates by 9–12 months, in parallel with foot loading, arch development, and upright postural progression. It is elicited by applying gentle pressure to the plantar pads just beneath the toes, triggering an involuntary flexion and grasping of the toes.
Asymmetrical
Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): The Primitive Spiral of Reach and Recoil
The Asymmetrical
Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) emerges around 18 weeks gestation and should be
fully integrated by 6 months of age. Often called the “fencer’s pose,” ATNR is
activated when the infant’s head turns to one side. The result is a distinct
asymmetrical pattern: the limbs on the face side extend, while the limbs on the
skull side flex. This creates a rotational spiral across the body, preparing
for visual–motor mapping, crossing midline, and later voluntary reach.