The Foundations

Foundation One: Primitive Reflexes

The earliest movement patterns that organize the nervous system for survival and learning.

Primitive reflexes are automatic movement patterns that emerge in utero and during the first year of life. They serve critical survival functions — rooting, grasping, startling — and then, in typical development, they integrate as higher brain centers take over.

When these reflexes remain active past their expected window, they interfere with voluntary movement, postural control, attention, and emotional regulation. The child doesn't outgrow them. The reflexes must be identified and systematically integrated through targeted movement programs.

Balance

The vestibular foundation that supports posture, spatial orientation, and attention.

Moro Reflex

The startle response that, when retained, drives anxiety, sensory sensitivity, and fight-or-flight reactions.

Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex

ATNR

Affects hand-eye coordination, crossing midline, and the ability to write while looking at a board.

Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex

STNR

Impacts posture, attention, and the ability to sit still and focus in a classroom setting.

Spinal Galant

When retained, causes fidgeting, bedwetting, and difficulty sitting still — often mistaken for ADHD.

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

TLR

Affects balance, muscle tone, posture, and spatial orientation when retained beyond infancy.

Palmar Reflex

The grasp reflex that, when retained, impacts handwriting, fine motor control, and speech development.

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