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Tonic neck reflex

MedGen UID:
78833
•Concept ID:
C0278128
•
Finding
Synonym: Tonic Neck Reflex
SNOMED CT: Tonic neck reflex (37124008)

Definition

An involuntary, primal response in the neonate in which the arm extends to follow the infant''s gaze, while the opposing arm and leg flex inward. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVTonic neck reflex

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Primary reflex persistence in children with partial hearing.
Livingstone N, McPhillips M
Dev Neuropsychol 2014;39(3):233-47. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2013.874427. PMID: 24742313
Prospective follow-up of primitive reflex profiles in high-risk infants: clues to an early diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Zafeiriou DI, Tsikoulas IG, Kremenopoulos GM
Pediatr Neurol 1995 Sep;13(2):148-52. doi: 10.1016/0887-8994(95)00143-4. PMID: 8534280

Recent clinical studies

Therapy

Sex differences in high-risk premature infants' asymmetric movement development.
Grattan MP, Nelson MN, White-Traut RC, Vasan U, Gu GG, Littau S
Phys Occup Ther Pediatr 2005;25(4):5-28. doi: 10.1300/j006v25n04_02. PMID: 16418113
Effects of replicating primary-reflex movements on specific reading difficulties in children: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.
McPhillips M, Hepper PG, Mulhern G
Lancet 2000 Feb 12;355(9203):537-41. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)02179-0. PMID: 10683004
The influence of the asymmetric tonic neck reflex on the H-reflex in human temporal muscle.
Macaluso GM, De Laat AD, Pavesi G
Minerva Stomatol 1996 Sep;45(9):387-92. PMID: 8950862
A comparative study on the presence of the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex in adult hemiplegia.
Warren ML
Am J Occup Ther 1984 Jun;38(6):386-92. doi: 10.5014/ajot.38.6.386. PMID: 6742088
Effects of the asymmetric tonic neck reflex and high-frequency muscle vibration on isometric wrist extension strength in normal adults.
Curry EL, Clelland JA
Phys Ther 1981 Apr;61(4):487-95. doi: 10.1093/ptj/61.4.487. PMID: 7208632

Prognosis

Prognostic significance of neurological signs in high-risk infants - a systematic review.
Hamer EG, Hadders-Algra M
Dev Med Child Neurol 2016 Mar;58 Suppl 4:53-60. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13051. PMID: 27027608
Assessment of specific characteristics of abnormal general movements: does it enhance the prediction of cerebral palsy?
Hamer EG, Bos AF, Hadders-Algra M
Dev Med Child Neurol 2011 Aug;53(8):751-6. Epub 2011 Jun 29 doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.04007.x. PMID: 21711457
The tripartite origins of the tonic neck reflex: Gesell, Gerstmann, and Magnus.
Shevell M
Neurology 2009 Mar 3;72(9):850-3. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000343961.35429.09. PMID: 19255413
Primary reflex persistence in children with reading difficulties (dyslexia): a cross-sectional study.
McPhillips M, Jordan-Black JA
Neuropsychologia 2007 Mar 2;45(4):748-54. Epub 2006 Oct 9 doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.08.005. PMID: 17030045
Primitive reflexes and postural reactions in the neurodevelopmental examination.
Zafeiriou DI
Pediatr Neurol 2004 Jul;31(1):1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2004.01.012. PMID: 15246484

Clinical prediction guides

Developmental Language Disorder and Uninhibited Primitive Reflexes in Young Children.
Matuszkiewicz M, Gałkowski T
J Speech Lang Hear Res 2021 Mar 17;64(3):935-948. Epub 2021 Feb 23 doi: 10.1044/2020_JSLHR-19-00423. PMID: 33621124
Pelvic Symmetry Is Influenced by Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex during Young Children's Gait.
Gieysztor E, Pecuch A, Kowal M, Borowicz W, Paprocka-Borowicz M
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Jul 2;17(13) doi: 10.3390/ijerph17134759. PMID: 32630679Free PMC Article
Prognostic significance of neurological signs in high-risk infants - a systematic review.
Hamer EG, Hadders-Algra M
Dev Med Child Neurol 2016 Mar;58 Suppl 4:53-60. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13051. PMID: 27027608
Primitive reflexes and postural reactions in the neurodevelopmental examination.
Zafeiriou DI
Pediatr Neurol 2004 Jul;31(1):1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2004.01.012. PMID: 15246484
The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex in normal full-term infants.
Coryell J, Cardinali N
Phys Ther 1979 Jun;59(6):747-53. doi: 10.1093/ptj/59.6.747. PMID: 441119

Recent systematic reviews

The association between learning disorders, motor function, and primitive reflexes in pre-school children: A systematic review.
McWhirter K, Steel A, Adams J
J Child Health Care 2024 Jun;28(2):402-428. Epub 2022 Jul 13 doi: 10.1177/13674935221114187. PMID: 35830652
Prognostic significance of neurological signs in high-risk infants - a systematic review.
Hamer EG, Hadders-Algra M
Dev Med Child Neurol 2016 Mar;58 Suppl 4:53-60. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13051. PMID: 27027608

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