Dementia Research Group, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurology, University College, London, UK.
Primitive reflexes are typically present in childhood, suppressed during normal development, and may reappear with diseases of the brain, particularly those affecting the frontal lobes. In this review we discuss some historical aspects surrounding these reflexes, how they might be elicited and interpreted, and their potential clinical utility in modern neurological practice.