Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex
What is the Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex and what does it do?
The symmetrical tonic neck reflex (STNR) is an involuntary reaction to the head going up and down. This reflex is present at birth that becomes dormant, then reappears at around six months of age. It typically integrates at about 10 months of age. Often referred to as the “Learning Reflex”, the STNR helps differentiate and coordinate movement in the upper and lower body, enables to body to go against gravity to get into a hands and knees position, and finally to crawl.
Typical behaviors we see when the STNR in not integrated (retained):
· Poor balance
· Poor hand/eye coordination
· Difficulty with convergence/divergence
· Difficulty with sports
· Messy Eater
· Clumsy
· Slow to copy from the blackboard
· Poor posture while sitting
· Tendency to anchor fee behind desk
· Ape-like walk
· Puppy Sit (legs in W)
· Poor balance
· Difficulty in recognizing social cues
· Poor space and time awareness
· Poor learning ability
· Difficulty aligning math problems
· Challenges with memorization
· Difficulty learning to swim