The Moro Reflex

The Moro Reflex:

The Moro reflex (also known as the startle reflex) is an infantile reflex that develops between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation and typically disappears between 3 to 6 months of age. It is an involuntary motor response to a sudden loss of support or startling stimuli (such as loud noises or quick movements).

Components of the Moro reflex:

1.     Arm abduction – the baby spreads out their arms.

2.     Arm adduction – the baby pulls the arms back in.

3.     Crying – often accompanies the motor response.

The reflex may also include extension of the legs, finger spreading, and arching of the back.

Symptoms of the Moro Reflex in Infants

• Sudden startled reaction to noise, movement, or a feeling of falling.

• Throwing back of the head.

• Arms and sometimes legs extending outward, then quickly retracting.

• Crying or a startled expression.

Triggered by head drop, loud sounds, sudden changes in light, or even the baby's own movement. 

Issues if the Moro Reflex Is Not Integrated

While the Moro reflex is normal and necessary in early infancy, failure to integrate it (i.e., if it persists beyond 6 months of age) may indicate neurological or developmental problems. Although the reflex is expected only in infants, if it is retained or re-emerges in older children or adults, it can suggest poor central nervous system integration or unresolved trauma.

Potential issues in older individuals if the Moro reflex is not integrated:

• Hypersensitivity to stimuli (light, sound, touch).

• Emotional reactivity – sudden anxiety or panic in response to unexpected stimuli.

• Poor balance or coordination.

• Exaggerated startle response.

• Difficulty with focus or attention due to an overactive fight-or-flight response.

• Chronic stress or hypervigilance, leading to fatigue or burnout.

• Possible links to sensory processing disorders, ADHD, or anxiety disorders.
  
  

While most research focuses on infants, retained primitive reflexes like the Moro in adults are increasingly recognized in neurological and developmental therapies, where integration techniques may be used to support emotional regulation, posture, and sensory processing.