REFLEXES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO BEHAVIOURAL STATE IN NEWBORN

In 20 healthy newborn infants a series of 14 reflexes of various modalities was studied in different behavioural states (regular sleep, irregular sleep, quiet wakefulness) and during sucking. According to our results these reflexes fall into three categories. Proprioceptive reflexes (quadriceps reflex, biceps reflex, ankle clonus and Moro reflex) show good responses during regular sleep and wakefulness, but are absent or markedly diminished in irregular sleep. Exteroceptive reflexes (plantar and palmar grasp, the Babkin reflex, the palmo‐mental reflex, glabella reflex, and lip‐tap reflex) are absent or diminished in regular sleep. During irregular sleep these reflexes can be elicited almost as well as during wakefulness. Nociceptive reflexes (abdominal skin reflex, the Babinski reflex and an exteroceptive skin reflex from the thigh) are equally present in the three states investigated. The magnet response could not be obtained in any of the three states. During sucking, the palmar grasp and the tendon reflexes tend to be stronger whilst the abdominal skin reflex and the exteroceptive skin reflex from the thigh are slightly weaker. The implications for the neurophysiological organization of different behavioural states in human neonates are discussed together with their consequences for the clinical neurological examination of the newborn infant. Copyright © 1968, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved