Moro-Reflex

The Moro reflex ( reflex clamp, Umklammerungsreflex ) occurs in young animals of many mammals. He was named after the doctor Ernst Moro, who described the reflex 1918.

In humans, the surprising traps or self- Back of the infant results in the supine position to a sudden stretch of the arms, spreading the fingers and opening the mouth, then the arm and hand movement is reversed and ends in a fist; under strong reaction also occurs a bending of the legs from the hips. Also fright situations can trigger the Moro reflex, of parents of these is often perceived as a wince. Not infrequently the symptoms of West Syndrome is confused with the movement patterns occurring during Moro reflex.

The Moro reflex is vital for the young infant, because it allows, for example, the first breath and helps to open the trachea when the baby suffocating. It is formed in humans in the 9th week of pregnancy and is lost from the 3 / 4 Month of life by the maturation of the nervous system. It is through all channels of perception ( auditory, visual, tactile, vestibular ) initiated and leads to a complex physical reaction ( spontaneous movement of the upper extremity to the back, Tonusreaktion in the face, release of stress hormones, decrease in blood glucose levels, rise in heart rate and respiratory rate ).

In the self-help literature there is sometimes the recommendation, with the help of close wrapping in a cloth ( " spitting " ) to avoid that the infant wakes up in the first few months of life during sleep by the Moro reflex. The procedure is controversial.

In young animals, which are carried by their parents on the body, the Moro reflex prevents the fall from a parental body through the Nachgreifen in fur. Therefore, evolutionary biologists see in the Moro reflex also an indication that human infants are former active support charges.