Primitive Reflexes Explained: Moro, ATNR, STNR & More | Hopeful Neuron
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Primitive reflexes explained: the layer underneath meltdowns, focus and sleep.

Six early reflexes every parent should know about. What they are, what it looks like when one is still active, and what that can affect.

Every baby is born with automatic movement patterns that help them survive the first months of life. Most of these should switch off, or integrate, as the nervous system matures. When one stays active longer than it should, it doesn't cause a diagnosis on its own, but it can quietly get in the way of attention, coordination, emotional regulation and learning for years.

MoroATNRSTNRBabinskiPalmarRooting

On a free 15 minute call, we'll tell you honestly what we think is going on, and whether reflex integration could help your child.

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Adi and Dana Latter, Melillo Method certified practitioners specialising in primitive reflex integration
Six reflexes, one free guide·Present from birth, meant to switch off in infancy·Common across autism, ADHD, sensory and SEN·Checked with a hands-on assessment, not a questionnaire·Integration work fits into daily family life·In clinic or fully remote· Six reflexes, one free guide·Present from birth, meant to switch off in infancy·Common across autism, ADHD, sensory and SEN·Checked with a hands-on assessment, not a questionnaire·Integration work fits into daily family life·In clinic or fully remote·
Adi and Dana Latter, founders of Hopeful Neuron
Who We Are

Our older son didn't speak until he was five.

That's not a statistic from a course we took. It's where this started. We've spent over 20 years in developmental therapies since. Both of us are Melillo Method certified, since 2022, and we've never stopped learning. Auditory listening. Vision therapy. Posturology. Neurofeedback. Kinesiology. Nervous system regulation. Anatomy.

But the real qualification came before any certificate. Our older son was diagnosed at the lowest percentile for his age in the UK. Today he is fully verbal, has finished his GCSEs, has friends and is independent. Our younger son developed social anxiety that got worse during the pandemic years, to the point where he stopped speaking above a whisper, even to us, even at home. Through breathing exercises, mindfulness and a huge amount of patience, his voice came back. So did his confidence.

We have dealt with PANDAS, with rage that turned physical, with frustration and anxiety that had nowhere to go and came out sideways. Some years our house was chaos. We chose a different route for our own sons. We believed their nervous systems could be helped to do what they were built to do, and they have. That is what we bring into every family we work with. If your house feels like ours did, we know exactly where to start looking.

Read our full story →
Why It Matters

Why a reflex from infancy can still matter years later.

In plain terms, here is the order the nervous system works in, and where reflexes sit in that sequence.

1

Regulation

The nervous system first has to feel safe, so it isn't stuck in fight, flight or shutdown.

2

Movement

Balance, coordination and body awareness build the physical foundation the brain relies on.

3

Reflexes

This is where reflexes sit. Early automatic patterns finish switching off, so they stop getting in the way.

4

Learning & Communication

Focus, language and confidence can now land, because the foundation underneath them is there.

The six reflexes below are the ones we screen for most often, and what a retained pattern can look like in daily life.

The Six Reflexes

What each reflex is, and what to look for.

These signs overlap with a lot of other things, so this is a starting point for noticing patterns, not a way to self diagnose. A proper hands on check is the only way to know what's actually going on.

1

Moro Reflex

The startle reflex

In infancy, a sudden noise, light or drop in support makes a baby fling their arms out and cry, the body's built in alarm system. It should settle by around 4 months as the nervous system learns the world is safe.

Early sign

Arms and legs jerk outward at a loud noise or sudden movement, followed by crying.

If it stays active

The nervous system can stay stuck in a low level fight or flight state well past infancy.

What it can affect

Anxiety, sensory sensitivity, poor emotional regulation and being easily startled or overwhelmed.

2

ATNR

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

When a baby's head turns to one side, the arm and leg on that side straighten while the opposite side bends, the "fencer" position. It supports early hand-eye coordination and should integrate by around 6 months.

Early sign

The classic fencer pose, one arm extended in the direction the head is turned.

If it stays active

Turning the head can still trigger an unwanted shift in arm position or balance.

What it can affect

Handwriting, crossing the midline, reading and difficulty tracking a line of text.

3

STNR

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

This reflex links head position to arm and leg movement together, helping a baby learn to get onto hands and knees and eventually crawl. It typically integrates between 8 and 11 months.

Early sign

Bending the head forward or back changes arm and leg position at the same time.

If it stays active

Sitting upright at a desk and looking between a book and the board becomes tiring.

What it can affect

Poor posture, W-sitting, slouching at a desk and difficulty copying from a board.

4

Babinski Reflex

The plantar reflex

Stroking the sole of a baby's foot causes the big toe to bend upward and the other toes to fan out. It's a normal sign of an immature nervous system and should integrate as the pathways controlling the foot mature, usually by around 2 years.

Early sign

The big toe lifts and the foot fans when the sole is stroked.

If it stays active

The foot and ankle can struggle to provide stable, grounded input to the brain.

What it can affect

Balance, toe walking, and general foot and ankle stability during movement.

5

Palmar Reflex

The grasp reflex

Press a finger into a baby's palm and their fingers curl tightly around it, an early survival grip. It should integrate by around 6 months as voluntary hand control develops.

Early sign

An automatic, tight grasp when the palm is touched, hard for the baby to release.

If it stays active

Fine motor control in the hand can stay effortful rather than becoming automatic.

What it can affect

Pencil grip, handwriting fatigue and fine motor tasks like buttons or cutlery.

6

Rooting Reflex

The feeding reflex

Stroke a baby's cheek and they turn toward it, mouth open, ready to feed. It's essential in the first weeks of life and should integrate by around 4 months as feeding becomes more voluntary.

Early sign

Turning the head and opening the mouth automatically when the cheek is touched.

If it stays active

The mouth and face can stay more sensitive or reactive to touch than expected.

What it can affect

Speech articulation, sensitivity around the mouth, and some feeding or texture difficulties.

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Why Families Choose Us

What makes our approach different.

Personalised programmes

Built around your child's specific profile, not a generic package.

Parent-led coaching

You are trained to run the home programme, so progress doesn't stop between sessions.

Whole-child approach

We look at the nervous system, body and brain together, not one symptom at a time.

In-person Intensive Training

A dedicated week in our Mill Hill clinic for families who want hands-on, in-person support.

Remote worldwide

Families across the US, Australia, Israel and Europe get the same level of support from home.

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Families supported across London and internationally

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Individual programmes, built around your child

On Your Free Call

During your free 15 minute call, you'll discover:

  • Which of these six reflexes seem most relevant to what you're seeing at home
  • Whether a hands on assessment would be worthwhile for your child
  • Whether our reflex integration approach is the right fit, or if something else would serve your child better
Book a Free 15 Minute Call →
Real Stories

In their own words.

★★★★★

"After an intensive week with Dana and Adi, we saw improvement in our son's behaviour. He is calmer now, his focus has improved and his sleep has improved."

Niko & Sanja Apostoloski
London · Son aged 4, autism
★★★★★

"Dana and Adi are a great team, incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. They always found a way to help our son and gave us the strength to do the same at home."

Faranak Barabhuiya
London
★★★★★

"Very caring and truly have your best interests at heart. Check ins from Dana help keep you focused on working at home. Highly recommend."

Holly C.
UK
Common Questions

Things parents ask us about primitive reflexes.

A primitive reflex is an automatic movement pattern babies are born with. Most should integrate, meaning switch off, in the first year or two as the nervous system matures. When one stays active beyond that window, it's considered retained, and it can quietly interfere with attention, coordination, emotional regulation and learning.

Retained reflexes are usually identified through a hands on physical assessment, not a questionnaire. Common signs include poor balance, messy handwriting, sensitivity to being startled, W-sitting, toe walking and difficulty with reading or focus, but these signs overlap with many other things, so a proper check is the only way to know.

Yes. We work with children from 18 months to 18 years. The nervous system stays adaptable across that whole range, so integration work can help well beyond early childhood.

No. Retained reflexes are common across autism, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, dyslexia and dyspraxia, and also show up in children with no diagnosis at all. A diagnosis is not needed to have this checked.

No, it works alongside them. Most families come to us already in OT, speech therapy or SEN support, and find reflex work fills a gap those therapies weren't reaching.

Every child is different, but many families notice early changes within a few weeks of consistent daily practice. Full integration of a reflex pattern is usually measured in months, not days.

Not Sure Yet?

What happens on the free call?

A short, honest conversation, not a sales pitch.

1

You tell us what's going on

What you're seeing at home, at school and socially, in your own words.

2

We share what we think it is

Which of these reflexes look most relevant, and how we'd approach it.

3

You decide, no pressure

If it's a fit, we tell you what's next. If it's not, we'll say so honestly.

Ready to Find Out Where to Start?

Book a free 15 minute call with Adi & Dana.

No waiting list, no diagnosis needed, and no pressure to commit to anything. Just a straight conversation with two people who've been where you are.

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Go Deeper

Want to understand what is going on?

Take the free reflexes course →

A deeper, step by step look at integration at home.

Real stories and guidance →

Honest accounts from families who have been through it.

The science behind it all →

The neuroscience in plain English.
Book a Free Call →
Certifications & Affiliations
Dr. Robert Melillo, Melillo Method CIES, Collège International d'Etude de la Statique IAFNR, Interdisciplinary Association of Functional Neurosciences and Rehabilitation