Moro reflex

The Moro reflex is an infantile reflex that develops by 32 weeks of gestation and disappears at the sixth month of age. It is a response to a sudden loss of support and involves three distinct components:

  1. spreading out the arms (abduction)
  2. pulling the arms in (adduction)
  3. crying (usually)

It is distinct from the startle response. Unlike the startle response, the Moro reflex does not decrease with repeated stimulation. The primary significance of the Moro reflex is in evaluating integration of the central nervous system.

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