The rooting reflex is a primitive reflex that helps babies find food by turning their head towards touch on the cheek or mouth. This reflex fades over time, but if it persists or recurs after a brain injury, it may indicate a developmental delay or brain condition.
The rooting reflex is a primitive reflex observed among human infants and many nonhuman mammals. By “primitive reflexes” people mean reflexes that originate in the central nervous system and get suppressed over time. Babies are born with a set of such reflexes that are designed to give them an edge in life and ensure they can survive. In the case of the rooting reflex, the reflex helps the baby find food.
This reflex first appears in utero and can persist for up to a year after birth. When touching the cheek or mouth, the baby will turn his head towards the sensation, working on the mouth at the same time. The rooting reflex helps the baby attach to the breast or bottle. This reflex is usually very strong and persistent, and if a child fails to demonstrate the rooting reflex or other primitive reflexes, it can be a sign that something is wrong.
People are sometimes confused by the root reflex, because whenever a newborn’s cheek or mouth is touched, he or she will respond by turning over and opening his mouth. This can make it appear as if the baby is hungry when in fact they are not. The baby will also suckle on things, due to the suck reflex, and this can also be mistaken for a sign of hunger.
This primitive reflex is sometimes called a search reflex, because the baby is looking for the touch point it has just experienced. Other examples of primitive reflexes include the grasping reflex, which many people may have noticed when interacting with babies, because babies tend to grab objects that come within reach. The startle reaction or Moro reflex, gait reflex, and Galant reflex are other types of primitive reflexes seen in children.
During normal childhood development, primitive reflexes fade over time. If they persist, it may be indicative of a developmental delay and the child should be evaluated by a specialist. Primitive reflexes can also recur following a brain injury. When they do, it indicates that the part of the brain that usually suppresses these reflexes is no longer active or no longer functioning normally. A neurologist can evaluate a patient to learn more about which reflexes they are expressing. This information can be used to gather information about the patient’s brain condition and to determine the precise location of the lesion.
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