What is the Babinski reflex?

The Babinski reflex is a primary reflex of babies; that is to say, an automatic response from the moment of birth. This reflex, like other better known ones, such as sucking or swimming, has accompanied babies since ancient times, ensuring their survival. But do you know what it is and why it occurs?

In this article, we show you how the Babinski reflex is evaluated, as well as when it is a sign of health or, on the contrary, a sign of a possible abnormality.

Primary reflexes in babies

Reflexes in babies are a series of automatic responses that are triggered by an external stimulus. We owe the name reflex to the French doctor Jean Astruc, who compared these automatic reactions to the impact of a light beam on a mirror.

These reflexes are closely monitored by both health professionals and parents themselves. The main reason is that they are direct indicators of neurological health and possible future problems in the infant. In fact, the well-known Apgar test evaluates such reflexes as a direct indicator of the health of the newborn.

The baby’s primary reflexes are those that They occur at the moment of birth and will subsequently disappear. Some of these known as primary reflexes may be grasping objects with the fingers, the sucking reflex that facilitates the production of breast milk, the swimming reflex or the Babinski reflex. We will delve deeper into the latter below.

What is the Babinski reflex?

The Babinski reflex is also known as the baby’s plantar reflex. This reflex occurs when the sole of the foot is rubbed with a flat instrument. Thus, The baby automatically creates an extensive reflex in the hallux, colloquially known as the “big toe.”. The rest of the toes will open simultaneously in a fan shape.

The reason the Babinski reflex exists in babies, and in most mammals, has to do with the protection of the foot from possible damage. In fact, this movement can extend to other lower extremities, such as the legs, and is controlled by what are known as polysynaptic pathways in the spinal cord.

When ambiguous reflex responses are obtained in the Babinski reflex, other variants can be used. that corroborate this reflection. One of them may be the stimulation of the Achilles heel, better known as the Schaefer variant. In the same way, the Babinski effect can be replaced by the Gordon variant, which consists of putting pressure on the baby’s calf muscles.

The Babinski reflex: a sign of health and abnormality

As we have mentioned, babies from the moment of birth present the Babinski reflex. This reflex action It will tend to disappear around twelve months of age, although it can last up to two years..

Babies have not yet reached sufficient biological maturity and precisely for this reason, they perform what is known as the Babinski reflex. The absence of this reflex in the early years is associated with some disorder related to the central nervous system or the spinal cord, such as some developmental delays, spinal cord injuries, among others.

When babies reach sufficient biological maturity, they develop the negative Babinski reflex., which continues into adulthood. In this case, the same plantar pressure leads to a reflex in which the toes turn inward and the heel bone moves away from the center line of the leg. In the same way as in the case of babies, the absence of the negative Babinski effect in adults is associated with diseases of the nervous system.

The Babinski reflex: instinctive strength in babies

As we have seen, primary reflexes in babies are those responses beyond their control and that appear from the moment of birth. These primary reflexes have a primitive function that favors the survival of babies and that, therefore, the human species has maintained in its biological baggage.

The Babinski reflex is produced by applying pressure to the baby’s plantar area. Thus, a automatic toe extension and fanning response. When ambiguities are detected in the response of the Babinski reflex, other alternatives can be used, such as the one known as the Gordon variant or the Schaefer variant.

Once they are over two years of age, this reflex transforms into the well-known negative Babinski reflex.. Plantar stimulation now produces flexion and not extension. The fact that the two variants occur at a different evolutionary age are signs of conditions related to the central nervous system or the spinal cord.

Reflexes in babies and adults, such as the Babinski reflex, reveal the human instinct towards survival. In fact, although babies are considered one of the most immature species on a biological level, primary reflexes show that in some way they are also prepared for adversity. As they say, “babies are tougher than they look.”

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