The grasping reflex is a normal neurological development in newborns, causing their hand to close when the palm is touched. It is an involuntary reflex controlled by the central nervous system and is used to test newborns’ neurological status. If the reflex is not present or persists beyond six months, it may indicate a serious neurological defect. Reflex testing is an essential part of a sensory exam. Abnormalities in leg reflexes can indicate defects in the brainstem and spinal cord. Reflex analysis techniques aid neurologists in determining whether medical tests are needed.
The grasping reflex is a phenomenon seen in newborns that indicates normal neurological development. Often referred to as the “palma grasp reflex,” it causes a child’s hand to close into a grasping position to hold an object when the palm is touched. The primitive reflex can be tested at birth and occurs until the baby is five to six months old, when the brain’s frontal cortex is developed enough to inhibit it. It can be strong enough to support a child’s full body weight, and while the reflex can let go at any time, it can be triggered to release by stroking the back of a child’s hand.
An involuntary reflex, the grasp reflex is controlled by the central nervous system. It is a reflex used to test the neurological status of newborns, as well as other reflexes of the hips, neck and arms. Reflex testing is performed during any physical evaluation of a child and is an essential part of a sensory exam. If the grasp reflex is not present or persists beyond six months of age, the baby may have a serious neurological defect, such as a brain injury, spinal cord damage, or brain hemorrhage.
Fetuses show a grasping reflex while still in the womb, at about 28 weeks of development, and the grip should be strong enough by 37 weeks to lift the baby’s weight. Leg reflexes are similarly tested by having the child sit upright, brushing the foot, and watching how the hip and knee flex in response. Abnormalities in this reflex can indicate defects in the brainstem and spinal cord and can be difficult to measure in infants restrained by medical equipment. A reaction such as the grasp reflex normally disappears with time, although other reflexes present in children last for a person’s life. These include blinking, coughing, gagging, as well as sneezing and yawning reflexes.
If a reflex typically unique to children is observed in an adult, this could be a sign of severe brain damage or stroke, requiring further testing. Neurologists are aided by reflex analysis techniques to determine whether medical tests are needed and whether there is indeed a serious problem in the nervous system. For a child, if the grasping reflex ceases within six months and is replaced by the usual pincer grip, then this is a sign of normal neurological development.
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