The function of primary reflexes can be imagined as follows: Nature has provided us with various motor programmes stored in the brain. However, when a baby is born, the connections in the brain are not yet fully developed, so these programmes cannot be used immediately. To bridge this phase, nature created primary reflexes. These reflexes help to create “pathways” in the brain, laying the groundwork for future motor skills.
Primary reflexes “houses” in the brainstem, the lower part of the brain, which also controls reflexes for breathing, heart function, and other vital processes. In contrast, motor programmes are stored in the higher regions of the brain. Primary reflexes begin to develop during pregnancy and play a crucial role in birth—helping the baby enter the world without complications. After birth, they allow the baby to respond to the environment and simultaneously stimulate the brain to form neural connections—essentially "highways" leading to motor programmes.
What Happens When Primary Reflexes Can’t Fulfil Their Role? Primary reflexes need adequate stimulation and opportunities to “build highways.” If a child lacks sufficient movement opportunities—perhaps due to excessive time in car seats, on soft cushions, or other passive positions—the reflexes may not complete the “highway” construction in time. The child continues to grow and desires to explore the world, so they begin search for alternative “back roads.” While these back roads can also support basic movements like rolling, crawling, or walking, they are slower, less efficient, and less comfortable than highways.
As a result, less efficient movement patterns may develop, even in athletes. Although they may excel in physical skills, their less efficient patterns become obstacles when striving for higher performance levels, increasing the risk of injury or causing them to hit their limits sooner. In children, we may observe difficulties with motor skills, changes in muscle tone depending on head movements, challenges with sitting still at school, or problems with concentration. Issues with writing and reading may also arise due to unsteady eye movements.
We need to “build highways” that lead directly to correct motor programmes. Once these "highways" are constructed, they become direct and efficient routes. There is no longer a need to rely on winding "back roads". Using these direct paths naturally leads to the inhibition of primary reflexes, as they are no longer needed.
The exception to this occurs in cases of severe trauma (injury, stress, or psychological trauma), which can temporarily “awaken” primary reflexes because the "highways" need repairs. In cases of permanent brain damage (e.g., due to an brain injury or degenerative brain disease), primary reflexes may reappear because the highways become unusable. Under normal circumstances, however, well-built "highways" remain functional, eliminating the need to revert to less efficient paths.
What to Do If Primary Reflexes Persist?
If primary reflexes persist, they first need to be “strengthened” and provided with more “resources” (effort) to restart "highway construction". When "back roads" have been used for a long time, it’s not easy to motivate the system to invest in "highways".
As we begin to build "highways", there may initially be “traffic restrictions” and “jams.” This is why, during the initial stages of inhibiting primary reflexes, the condition may temporarily worsen. However, once the "highway" is completed, improvement follows, and the child will no longer feel the need to revert to old paths.
Unlike real highways, neural pathways don’t wear out with use—instead, they strengthen and improve. They can be compared to a trail in grass: if used frequently, it remains visible and functional, but if neglected, it gradually overgrows and disappears.
Using Neuro-Developmental Stimulation (NDS), we can stimulate primary reflexes to build "highways", which naturally inhibits them. This opens the way for children to access more efficient motor programmes and better manage everyday activities.
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