In order to grow safely and properly in the womb and in early life we are born with primitive reflexes. These are instinctive and aid the birthing process and survival skills such as breast feeding and grasping. As we outgrow the need for these reflexes, they are integrated into our nervous system. If children progress through the normal stages of development, they have a foundation for more complex muscle movement and cognitive tasks. Then the nervous system is ready to interact with emotional, social, physical and learning environments led by the higher functions of the brain.
Short Circuit
If a primitive reflex is retained and not integrated/inhibited, it can short circuit the higher functions of the brain, interfering with processing, learning, movement and attention. For example: Can we control our leg kicking up when the doctor hammers our knee cap (even if internally we may be shouting, “Don’t kick! Don’t kick!”)? No, because it is a reflex that takes over, short circuiting our executive brain function. The executive brain of someone with Retained Primitive Reflexes may be shouting, “Stay focused! Stay focused!” Yet, just as we cannot control our leg from kicking, this child is simply unable to control an inappropriate behavior. Unintegrated Retained Primitive Reflexes may look familiar: lack of concentration, motion sickness, poor coordination, poor bladder control, ADHD, poor writing expression, poor working memory, trouble sitting still or learning to swim, difficulty telling time, poor auditory processing, hyper sensitivity, and even being a messy eater, just to name a few. If the neurological foundation of the brain is not well ordered, it affects everything we do.
Causes
The causes of retained primitive reflexes vary: the smallest twin was more cramped in the womb, birth trauma, being in an orphanage restricted their movement, childhood illness, or simply not spending enough tummy time on the floor in each stage for each primitive reflex to be fully integrated. Trauma may also cause these to resurface.
Answers
After an evaluation of several primitive reflexes, neuro-development begins with Primitive Reflex Movement Therapy, which replicates the stages of development to strengthen neuro pathways. Sally Goddard, in Reflexes, Learning, and Behavior, says, “Most education and many remedial techniques are aimed at reaching higher centers in the brain. A Neuro-Developmental approach identifies the lowest level of dysfunction and aims therapy at that area. Once problems here have been remedied, it attempts to build links from lower to higher centers through the use of specific stimulation techniques.”
More to Grow is Based on Research
More to Grow trains families in simple exercises that can essentially modify the brain’s structure and facilitate learning by integrating and inhibiting Primitive Reflexes. When these are inhibited, the mature Postural Reflexes can be dominant. Retained Primitive Reflexes (RPRs), where they persist post-infancy, are linked to learning difficulties and the impaired ability to attain skills such as reading and writing effectively due to “ineffective interhemispheric communication”. RPRs are also linked to indicators of ADHD, which is “hypothesized to be a compensatory strategy for delayed neurological maturation”.
The cited 2020 published research “supported the earlier findings when they measured eight primitive reflexes that included: sucking, asymmetric tonic, rooting, Moro, Galant, tonic lateral and symmetrical tonic reflexes. Reflexes were measured and found that children with difficulties in learning, including those with ADHD, demonstrated a significantly higher level of RPRs compared with controls.”
More to Grow Cognitive Development Training strengthens weak areas of the brain and can transform our working memory, processing speed, attention, comprehension, critical thinking and communication skills that find their foundation in fully integrated primitive reflexes.
The mission of More to Grow Cognitive Development Training is to improve learning ability and function through cognitive exercises that meaningfully transfer to all educational and everyday life situations so individuals maximize their potential.
Darlene Lewis, darlene@moretogrow.com, https://moretogrow.com