Do you tend to feel off balance or noticed your coordination isn’t quite what it should be? If you struggle with eye-hand coordination or find your sports performance lacking, it might be linked to a “primitive reflex” called the Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR).
Primitive reflexes are innate movement patterns present in newborns, designed to assist in early development. One such reflex is the Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR). This reflex occurs when a baby turns their head to one side, causing the arm and leg on that side to straighten, while the opposite limbs bend. Interestingly, the kicking sensations a mother feels during pregnancy are thought to be related to this reflex. As the baby turns its head in the womb, the resulting reactive movements, including kicks and punches, could be practice for the birthing process. This reflex is potentially helping the mother during childbirth, assisting in the baby to push itself through the birth canal with its arms and legs as the neck twists and turns through the birth canal.
As an infant turning their head still triggers this reflex, aiding the baby in rolling from back to stomach. If the baby turns its head to the right and the right arm and leg kicks out straight while the left arm and leg bends, it will help the baby to tumble on to its stomach. Getting onto the stomach is important to build the back and neck extensor muscles and to get in the position to start to develop crawling. If this reflex is appropriately stimulated and allowed to run its course it strengthens, matures and eventually fades away (integrates). Typically, the ATNR reflex integrates by 6 to 12 months as the child gains more control over their movements.
When the Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) remains retained and doesn’t fully integrate, it can significantly impact development and coordination. For instance, if a child’s ATNR persists while crawling, turning their head can cause one arm and leg to react reflexively. This disrupts their ability to coordinate movements smoothly, making crawling awkward and less efficient. Proper crawling involves a cross-pattern movement between the upper and lower limbs as well as right and left crucial for developing full-body coordination.
In adults, a retained ATNR can still cause issues, a retained ATNR may subtly interfere with coordinated movements, such as turning the head while driving a car could reflexively contribute to turning the steering wheel and the car start to migrate of course. Overall, if this reflex is not integrated, it can lead to clumsiness, poorer sports performance, and challenges in distinguishing right from left, affecting various aspects of daily life.
For babies, one of the best ways to help integrate the ATNR is to provide plenty of floor time. Allowing them to move freely on a flat surface encourages natural movement patterns and helps the reflex to mature and integrate. An engaging environment with toys and objects encourages them to reach and explore, promoting healthy development.
To address this, specific exercises can help. In the video, I’ll demonstrate how to start by mimicking the ATNR movement, then refining it to engage higher brain centres for voluntary control and finally overriding it with opposing movement patterns. These exercises not only support reflex integration but also enhance overall coordination, strength, and body control, helping you move with greater precision and function in daily life.
Suggested Progression Plan
Weeks 1–2
Focus primarily on mimicking the ATNR movement pattern (about 60%), while spending 20% of your time refining and controlling the movement, and 20% practising opposing or overriding movements.
Weeks 3–5
Balance your training more evenly — roughly one-third on mimicking, one-third on refining, and one-third on overridingthe movement pattern.
Weeks 5–7
Shift the emphasis towards overriding the reflex (around 60%), with 20% each on mimicking and refining movements.
After Week 7
Focus entirely on overriding and replacing the reflex with controlled, coordinated movements — 100% refinement through voluntary, higher-level control.
By progressively retraining these movement patterns, you’re not just integrating a primitive reflex — you’re strengthening your core muscles and unlocking a higher level of coordination and body control.