What are primitive reflexes?

 Primitive reflexes are involuntary, automatic movement patterns that are present at birth. They are essential for survival and early development, as they help infants respond to their environment and begin developing basic motor and sensory skills. 

 Primitive reflexes are typically integrated (or "inhibited") by higher brain functions as an infant's nervous system matures, usually by 6 to 12 months of age. However, some reflexes can be retained into childhood or adulthood, potentially causing developmental challenges and difficulties with motor skills, learning, and behaviour. 

Research has shown that significant implications for motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and cognitive development can be found reflexes are retained beyond early childhood. Normally, these reflexes are supposed to integrate within the first year or so of life as the brain matures and higher cortical functions take over.