The Unintegrated Body: Autonomic Dysregulation and Subclinical Adrenal Dysfunction

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®.

This model proposes an integrated framework for understanding the pathomechanisms of subclinical adrenal dysfunction, connecting deep physiological drivers to downstream clinical expressions. It serves as a working theory for practitioners who observe localized, non-systemic patterns of circadian dysrhythmia and persistent sympathetic dominance in their clients. This model demonstrates how a fundamental distortion in the balance of the nervous system can create a cascading series of effects, from cellular processes to the observable symptoms that manifest in the body. The simultaneous development of the sinew channels, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the enteric nervous system (ENS), the limbic system, and the vestibule is why therapeutic work on the sinew channels can effect change across multiple systems. Because these signs of dysautonomia are visibly and objectively reflected in the fascial and sinew channel patterns, practitioners can learn to recognize the symptoms of localized cortisol inhibition and re-effect systemic balance through targeted interventions.

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR): The Hinge of Postural Control and Vertical Integration

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®.

The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) is a developmental reflex that helps a baby organize their posture and movement. It starts to show up between 6–9 months and integrates by 9–11 months. This reflex connects the movement of the head to the movement of the arms and legs in the following way: 

• 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.

Foot Reflexes: Primitive Patterns Govern Our Connection to Earth

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®.

The primitive reflexes of the foot form a tightly interwoven system that anchors the body’s relationship to the ground. These include the Babinski Reflex, Toe Grasp Reflex, Achilles Reflex, and Stepping Reflex—each playing a distinct role in foot–core coordination, pelvic stabilization, and upright extension. While often treated as separate entities, they operate as a developmental unit, with overlapping fascial, neurological, and energetic architectures.

Palmar Grasp Reflex: The Primitive Reach-Hold Pattern of Upper Limb Control

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®.

The Palmar Grasp Reflex is a late-appearing, higher-order reflex that emerges around 28 weeks gestation and typically integrates by 4–6 months postnatally. It is triggered when pressure is applied to the palm, producing an involuntary finger flexion. Unlike more primitive trunk-based reflexes, the palmar grasp relies on finer distal coordination and is often delayed in integration if earlier reflexes—such as the FPR, Moro, TLR, or ATNR—remain active.

This reflex is vital for early hand–mouth coordination, tactile exploration, and the development of postural tone in the upper body. As with Toe Grasp, it is replaced by volitional grasp once cortical control matures.

Toe Grasp Reflex: The Primitive Anchor of Plantar Flexion and Core Stability

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®.

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.

Academic Publishing as Extraction: The Hidden Cost of Publishing Real Science

I’ve spent the last few years researching and preparing academic articles that document a neurological, trauma-informed approach to acupuncture. This was due, in large part, to my own journey through neurogenic illness. These aren’t casual musings—they were hard-earned insights shaped by my own trauma recovery, a long term background as a toxicologist, and five years of post-graduate coursework and clinical study in reflex integration and neuroscience. All of this was confirmed in treatment rooms, backed by clinical data, and crafted with care.

Achilles Reflex: The Plantar Rebound for Push-Off and Ground Response

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®.

The Achilles Reflex is a primitive freeze-based bracing pattern localized to the posterior ankle and heel. It emerges in utero and becomes structurally active in the later stages of the Core Tendon Guard (CTG) reflex, serving as one of its five primary fascial bracing zones. This reflex activates during threat states by locking the posterior ankle into plantarflexion,
recruiting the gastrocnemius–soleus complex and transmitting tension through the Achilles tendon into the calcaneus and tibial fascial plane.

This is not the Achilles deep tendon reflex (DTR) tested in orthopedic exams. Rather, it is a sustained, fascia-dominant contraction pattern consistent with the immobilization phase of a full-body freeze response. In adult clients, it is nearly always retained alongside Moro, Babinski, or Toe Grasp reflexes, particularly in those with trauma histories, plantar rigidity, or collapsed foot posture.

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): The Primitive Spiral of Reach and Recoil

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): The Primitive Spiral of Reach and Recoil

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®.

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.

Spinal Galant Reflex: The Lateral Arc of Trunk Escape and Pelvic Mobility

The Spinal Galant Reflex appears around 20 weeks gestation and typically integrates by 9 months of age.  This reflex is triggered when the skin along the side of the infant's back is stroked, causing the infant to curve their body towards the stimulated side. The Spinal Galant Reflex plays a crucial role in the development of coordination and flexibility in the trunk, which is important for crawling and other early movements. Additionally, this reflex is thought to assist in the birthing process by helping the baby to navigate through the birth canal.