Interview with Dr Svetlana Masgutova

Why did Nature give us the motor reflex as the response to sensory, proprioceptive and vestibular stimuli?

The child is born with a complex of natural resources, a genetically given set of natural reactions and reflexes. During our pregnancy, infancy and early childhood, these reflexes and primary movements create the nerve net system and myelinate it, determine brain maturation and functioning, and also coordinate the work of the whole “Body-Brain” System.

So why did Nature give us the motor reflex as the response to these stimuli?

Firstly, to create and to myelinate nerve nets. This process optimizes the neurodevelopmental foundations that underpin future success in consciously developed motor and cognitive skills. Reflex integration supports neuroplasticity - the growth of dendrites and axons, the formation of the nerve net system, the optimal working of synapses, the myelination process, the strengthening of nerve transmission, the activation of compensation mechanisms, all of which lead to brain maturation.

Secondly, the reflex is a concrete expression of protection and survival processes in the human organism. It is important that we develop positive protection mechanisms in order to create an internal sense of safety instead of fear and a healthy curiosity instead of limitation. This feeling of well-being and curiosity stimulates our cognitive processes and our positive interaction with the environment. However, the reflex’s most important task is to ensure survival. Only after this, can development come.

Thirdly, thanks to these functions, the reflex integration process can be used as a non-verbal tool for constructing the informational blueprint of neurodevelopment. Different reflex patterns correspond to different processes and skills. For example, the Grasp reflex influences the development of future manual skills and speech articulation. Hands Supporting, Hands Pulling and STNR influence the transition in visual-proprioceptive perception from two-dimensional planes to three-dimensional space. ATNR affects the development of mono- and binaural hearing and space orientation. Crawling develops the multi-directed coordination of the motor system and goal-orientation. Fear Paralysis influences the development of the freezing mechanisms in our organism. Moro affects the formation of “Fight and Flight” reactions.

Fourthly, reflexes determine emotional responses and behaviors. When certain reflexes like Moro, Fear Paralysis and Tendon Guard are hypersensitive and hyperactive, they create emotional disorders and instability, tactile defensiveness and other sensory sensitivities. Integration of these reflex patterns can be of great support in generating feelings of safety, comfort, courage and joy.

Fifthly, reflex integration indirectly influences future speech development including articulation and communication. For example, Babkin, Head Righting, TMJ Leveling, and Eye Leveling reflexes affect oral motor coordination and articulation.

Our task is to work with Nature instead of struggling against it. To allow genetic motor patterns to emerge instead of “inhibiting” dysfunctions and pathologies. Our goal is to activate the innate resources of genetic motor memory represented through the reflex patterns. In this way, reflex integration supports neurodevelopment through the different stages of sensory, motor, emotional, informational and cognitive development.

“When you watch the amazing unconditioned movements of this unborn baby, can you see that they resemble the reflex patterns? And what is the trigger for these movements? We don’t know for sure because this is the time when the sensory-motor systems are so tightly intertwined that one cannot tell what is “sensory” and what is ”motor” and we’re not sure, at this stage, which one is triggering which – like the chicken and the egg. However, we are clear that these reflexes and primary movements are given by Nature to create the nerve net system and to myelinate it in preparation for functioning after birth. Babyhood is the time for the most natural training of motor reflexes.”

Dr. Svetlana Masgutova, 2009.