Primitive Reflex
Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)
Often called the "Learning Reflex." Helps differentiate and coordinate movement in the upper and lower body.
The symmetrical tonic neck reflex (STNR) is an involuntary reaction to the head going up and down. The reflex is present at birth, becomes dormant, and 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 the body to go against gravity into a hands-and-knees position, and finally to crawl.
Typical Behaviors When STNR Is Retained
- •Poor balance
- •Poor hand-eye coordination
- •Difficulty with convergence and divergence
- •Difficulty with sports
- •Messy eater
- •Clumsy
- •Slow to copy from the blackboard
- •Poor posture while sitting
- •Tendency to anchor feet behind desk
- •Ape-like walk
- •Puppy sit (legs in W)
- •Difficulty recognizing social cues
- •Poor space and time awareness
- •Poor learning ability
- •Difficulty aligning math problems
- •Challenges with memorization
- •Difficulty learning to swim