Rooting Reflex: Difference between revisions

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The newborn will turn their head towards the stimulus and open the mouth with [[tongue]] thrusting (tongue sits too forward in the mouth).<ref name=":1" />
The newborn will turn their head towards the stimulus and open the mouth with [[tongue]] thrusting (tongue sits too forward in the mouth).<ref name=":1" />
== Duration ==
== Duration ==
The rooting reflex is present at birth (around 28 weeks gestation) and lasts about 4 to 6 months until the [[Frontal Lobe|frontal lobe]] of the cerebral cortex.<ref name=":1" />
The rooting reflex is present at birth (around 28 weeks of gestation) and lasts about 4 to 6 months until the [[Frontal Lobe|frontal lobe]] of the cerebral cortex.<ref name=":1" />


{{#ev:youtube|b0CLcNtOOEQ}}<ref>betapicts. Baby Rooting Reflex / Reaction. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0CLcNtOOEQ&t=9s</ref>
{{#ev:youtube|b0CLcNtOOEQ}}<ref>betapicts. Baby Rooting Reflex / Reaction. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0CLcNtOOEQ&t=9s</ref>

Revision as of 13:38, 22 April 2022

Original Editor - Muskan Rastogi

Top Contributors - Muskan Rastogi and Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka  


Introduction[edit | edit source]

The rooting reflex is an instinctive response of the head to stimulate the face, mouth, or cheek touch. [1]

This reflex has also been observed in the apes and other mammals and it's similar to what is seen in human infants.[1]

Stimulus[edit | edit source]

The reflex is initiated when the corner of an infant’s mouth is stimulated by touching or stroking. [2]

Response[edit | edit source]

The newborn will turn their head towards the stimulus and open the mouth with tongue thrusting (tongue sits too forward in the mouth).[2]

Duration[edit | edit source]

The rooting reflex is present at birth (around 28 weeks of gestation) and lasts about 4 to 6 months until the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex.[2]

[3]

Difference between Sucking and Rooting Reflex[edit | edit source]

  • It's critical to differentiate between the rooting reflex and the sucking reflex, as the latter is also involved in the nourishing intake of the infant. [4]
  • The difference in both reflexes is that the rooting reflex occurs when the corner of a baby’s mouth is stimulated, while the sucking reflex initiates when the roof of their mouth is stimulated.[4]
  • The sucking reflex is usually observed around 30 to 35 weeks and is in charge of the coordination of breathing with swallowing, which starts to emerge around 37 weeks[4]

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

  • The reflex is impertinent for the survival and growth of the infant, as it helps the newborn find the origin of food (either nipple or bottle) and also initiates breastfeeding.[5]
  • If the rooting reflex is preserved beyond the disintegration time, the infant may have drooling and a tongue that sits too forward in the mouth. The child will struggle to perform swallowing and chewing functions because of the dysfunctional tongue. Other clinical symptoms include hypotonic or hypertonic muscle tone, asymmetric posture and gait, and delayed developmental milestones.[6] [7][8]
  • The persistence of primitive reflexes in infancy may also be an early indication of cognitive-developmental delay or autism.[6][7][8]
  • The trigeminal cranial nerve , which helps in the sensation of the face, is also involved in the functioning of the rooting reflex. An infant with an intact trigeminal nerve will have a normal response but if the infant has the nerve pathology, there is no response observed.[2]
  • Rooting reflexes are observed in adult patients with frontal lobe pathology. They often present with other primitive reflexes that are normally disintegrated by the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. [2]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kreutzer J. In F.-A.-S. Test, JS Kreutzer, J. DeLuca, & B. Caplan. Encyclopedia of clinical neuropsychology. 2011.https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1905
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Yoo H, Mihaila DM. Rooting Reflex. InStatPearls [Internet] 2021 May 1. StatPearls Publishing.
  3. betapicts. Baby Rooting Reflex / Reaction. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0CLcNtOOEQ&t=9s
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sohn M, Ahn Y, Lee S. Assessment of primitive reflexes in high-risk newborns. Journal of clinical medicine research. 2011 Dec;3(6):285.
  5. Glodowski KR, Thompson RH, Martel L. The rooting reflex as an infant feeding cue. Journal of applied behavior analysis. 2019 Feb;52(1):17-27.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Agarwal A, Verma I. Cerebral palsy in children: An overview. Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma. 2012 Dec 1;3(2):77-81.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Panteliadis CP, Hagel C, Karch D, Heinemann K. Cerebral palsy: a lifelong challenge asks for early intervention. The open neurology journal. 2015;9:45.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Chinello A, Di Gangi V, Valenza E. Persistent primary reflexes affect motor acts: Potential implications for autism spectrum disorder. Research in developmental disabilities. 2018 Dec 1;83:287-95.