Reflex Integration Needed for Learning

Early motor development of a healthy child and child with Cerebral Palsy

Svetlana Masgutova's extensive article does a masterful job describing how a healthy sensory-motor system develops and what goes wrong with children with Cerebral Palsy. According to Dr. Masgutova, “Maturation of the nervous system involves the inter-connection of reflex circuits. The role of these latter phases is to expand the development of a reflex in order to create the groundwork for reflex integration with motor skills and abilities. This supports the development of academic skills such as elementary reading, drawing, writing, and calculating. Delayed reflex development, or the omission of any phase, adversely affects the formation of future skills.”