You can record your results in a format such as this one. Score each reflex on a scale of 0 (completely integrated) to 4 - 100% there.

Now, move the head back to neutral and then push it forward into full flexion (down, chin to chest). Again, step back and look for the same swaying or falling forward. Repeat three times. If the reflex is retained, the sway will become more and more pronounced and they may even fall backward or forward, so stay close to prevent them from falling. The bigger the sway, the more retained the reflex.

Standing behind them, place your hands on either side of the head and hold it firmly, then turn the head all the way to the right. As you do this, step slightly to the left of the subject. Turn the head to the end range and then slightly further, holding it in that position for five seconds. If the reflex is retained, the arms will not stay straight ahead; they will rotate and drift to the side of the head turn. Keep the head turned until the arm movement stops, then bring it back to a neutral position and the arms will snap back if the reflex is retained. Repeat to the left. Complete three times in each direction and grade the reflex on the last repetition. A slight movement is a 1, while the arms turning all the way with the head is a 4.

This is what the spinal galant reflex looks like on a newborn. The head and hips move towards the side of stroking. This reflex should be integrated by 9 months of age.

Turn the head to the end of the range of motion and then slightly more. Observe if the elbow on the side of head turn extends slightly, and if the opposite elbow bends or significantly shakes. If the reflex is fully retained, the elbow will bend fully and that side of the body will collapse, so make sure your partner holds the head still and keeps you from falling over through a slight upward pressure. Turn the head back to the center and repeat on the opposite side.

Note how much the elbow bends and if it is more present on one side. Remember: no reflex should ever be asymmetric. Most commonly, the side the head is turned to when the opposite elbow bends, is the side of a more severe hemispheric developmental delay. For example, if we turn the head to the right and the left elbow bends more, it denotes a right hemisphere delay.

Complete three times on both sides and grade the severity level. If you are severely “double-jointed” and the elbows hyperextend when they are on their hands and knees, unlock your elbows by flexing them slightly before your partner turns your head.

Instructions for the Tester: Immediately after testing the ATNR, keep hold of the head but switch the position of your hands. If you are right-handed, instead of standing or kneeling in front of the patient, move slightly to the right side of their head. Place two or three fingers on your left hand under their chin and the right hand on the back of the top of the head, almost like palming a ball. Don’t place your full hand under the chin because when you flex the head, the hand may block the full flexion and it may compress the neck, which can be very uncomfortable.

Flex the head all the way down. Make sure to push the head down, not backwards. If the reflex is present, the elbows will both bend and the legs may extend a bit, rocking the individual forward. With your bottom hand, apply a slight upward pressure to prevent them from completely collapsing, so their head may touch the ground or floor.

The whole head and body may collapse as the elbows reflexively bend, so make sure to maintain control of and hold up the head. Push up with your bottom hand to a neutral position and extend the head all the way back as far as it can go. If the reflex is present, both arms will extend and both legs will flex, making the patient sit back on their heels a bit. Repeat three times and grade the severity on the third try.

With the hard side of a paintbrush, stroke up the outside of the foot toward the ball of the foot, stopping just under the ball of the foot. Maintain deep, firm pressure and a quick stroking motion from the base of the hill, aiming at an area roughly between the fourth and fifth toes. If the reflex is still present, the foot and big toe will extend back towards your face, and the other toes will also extend and may flare apart. If the reflex is gone, it is replaced by what is known as the plantar reflex and the toes will curl down with the same stroking movement.

Stroke with firm pressure three times on each foot. Sometimes, the toes may initially go down but reverse direction with the second or third stroke. This means the reflex is still present but partially integrated, which is why you need to conduct the test more than once. The reflex is graded by the strength of the foot and toes going backward and toes splaying.

The Babinski reflex should be exhibited on both feet at the exact same time; however, it, more than almost any other reflex, is commonly retained on one foot more than the other. This marks an efficient way to assess the most immature hemisphere: the foot with the stronger Babinski reflex is typically on the opposite side of the more immature brain. The only time this may not be the case is if the foot with the lower response does not feel the pressure of the stroking and/or on the side of lower tone. This is where experience can help with understanding and differentiating the reflex.

Use the hard end of a small paintbrush to draw an X with firm pressure over the middle of the palm of the hand. Look for any contraction or withdrawal of the hand, fingers or even arm. If the reflex is strong, the whole hand may contract and grab the brush. Otherwise, you may see quick but clear contractions and a partial closure of the fingers. In some cases, the hand will contract and the whole arm may jump. All of these represent different levels of retained reflexes in the 0-4 scale.

You can self-assess for this reflex. Taking a brush, start slightly below the cheekbone on one side and then, firmly pushing on the brush, draw a straight line down to the corner of the mouth, brush over both lips and touch the other corner of the mouth. Do this three times on either side and grade the severity on the third try.

Then, stroke the brush from the chin directly toward the mouth on the same side three times. Similarly, grade the severity on the third try. Finally, complete the exact same procedure from the cheek and from the chin to the corner of the mouth and over the lips on the opposite side, then grade its severity.

The presence of and/or asymmetry of the reflex is a sure sign of a brain imbalance. During the test, look for contractions around the mouth and cheek. The most severe level (4) is if you open your mouth fully, turn toward the brush, and attempt to latch on and suck. There is often a consistent contraction of the lips that may look like a smile, but when it happens each time, it is clearly a reflex. There can be many variations; we have observed the whole face twitch on one side or the other. It can also be as subtle as a slight contraction of the bottom or top lip, which may be considered a 1 in severity. Again, it should not be there at all — and any amount is interfering with integration of the nervous system.

You can self-assess for this reflex. Take the hard side of the paintbrush and hold it vertically to your mouth, brush side down. Or you can use your finger.

Traditionally, to test for the reflex, you would press on the upper lip/philtrum area with the brush or your finger. However, I find it most effective when the examiner presses firmly on the upper and bottom lip at the same time, holding for three to five seconds and watching for a response (the closing of the mouth and puckering of the lips into the brush).

If the reflex is present, you will close and pucker up like a kiss. If the reflex is present in a strong way, you can press on the corner of the mouth and it will cause the lips to close and pucker. If the reflex is not present, there will be no movement of the face or lips (a 0 on our grading scale, while full lip puckering would be a 4).

Have your partner turn your head in one direction all the way and then slightly more. Have them hold this position. If the reflex is still present, they will see the arm and leg on the side of the head turn start to straighten out and possibly fully extend. On the opposite side, the arm and leg will slowly bend or flex and may end up fully flexed. Then, have them bring the head to the neutral position and turn it all the way in the opposite direction — and then slightly more. Have them hold for at least five seconds or until both arms and legs finish moving. Repeat three times on either side, grading the severity on the third time.

Lay supine, in a face-up position with arms at their side and legs flat. Have your partner lift your head up all the way into flexion, then quickly thrust it down toward the table (taking care not to bang your head on the table!), only about two to three inches.

This simulates falling backward, which is what activates the Moro reflex if it is still active. Repeat this three times and watch if the hands, arms or legs fly up or off the table. It can range from the fingers and hands extending slightly to the entire body jumping. You may also see an immediate increase in pulse rate and face flushing.

Start on the floor, lying face up, with feet hip-width apart and arms on the floor. Raise your back off of the floor and hold this position as long as possible.

The goal is to hold it for 60 seconds.

Start on the floor, lying face up, feet and knees together and arms across your chest. Raise your back off of the floor and hold this position as long as possible.

The goal is to hold it for 60 seconds.

Start on the floor, lying face up, arms on the floor. Raise your back and one leg off of the floor and hold this position as long as possible.

The goal is to hold it for 30 seconds on each side.

Start on the floor, lying face up, arms across your chest. Raise your back and one leg off of the floor and hold this position as long as possible.

The goal is to hold it for 30 seconds on each side for level 4. 45 seconds each side for Level 5.

Lie on your side with your legs and body straight and both hands on the floor, as well as your bottom arm and elbow.

Raise your top leg in the air, your leg should be straight. Hold as long as possible, the goal is 30 seconds.

Repeat on the other side.

Lie on your side with your legs and body straight and both hands on the floor, as well as your bottom arm and elbow.

Place your top foot in front of your bottom foot on the floor.

Raise your hips off the ground to make a lateral bridge. Hold as long as possible.

Reverse and do other side. Goal is 30 seconds each side.

Lie on your side with your legs and body straight.

Stack your top leg on your bottom and your top arm straight by your side.

Raise your hips off the ground to make a lateral bridge. Hold as long as possible.

Reverse and do other side. Goal is 30 seconds each side.

Lie on your side with your legs and body straight and both hands on the floor, as well as your bottom arm and elbow.

Stack your top leg on the bottom one. Raise your hips off the ground to make a lateral bridge and raise your top leg. Hold as long as possible.

Reverse and do other side. Goal is 30 seconds each side.

Lie on your side with your legs and body straight, bottom hand and elbow on the floor.

Stack your top leg on the bottom one and your top arm by your side.

Raise your hips off the ground to make a lateral bridge and raise your top leg. Hold as long as possible.

Reverse and do other side. Goal is 30 seconds each side.

Lie face down. Lift one arm, holding as still and straight as possible. The goal is to hold for 15 seconds.

Raise each limb.

Lie face down. Lift right arm and left leg at the same time. Hold as still and straight as possible.

Goal is 15 seconds on each side for Level 1.

Hold 30 seconds each time for Level 2.

Lie face down. Lift arms and legs off the ground at the same time. Hold as still and straight as possible.

Level 3: hold for 30 seconds

Level 4: hold for 60 seconds

Level 5: hold for two sets of 60 seconds

Hang from the bar for 30 second for Level 1.

Hang for 60 seconds for Level 2.

Level 3 - 1 pull up

Level 4 - 5 pull ups

Level 5 - 10 pull ups

Lie down with your knees bent, preferably with your feet stabilized (a low sofa works well). Do as many sit ups as you can in one minute.

Use the standard "military style" push-up technique. The starting position is facing down with your weight distributed on the hands and feet, arms straight. The body is straight, and the hands are placed approximately shoulder width apart.

Lower your body until your elbows are bent at 90 degrees at the bottom of the movement, and then return up to the starting position. This is one repetition.

Do as many push ups as you can.

Put a couple of drops of an essential oil on the collar of your shirt that's on the same side as the side of your brain that you want to stimulate. So place it on your right collar to stimulate the right side or the left collar to stimulate the left side.

You can choose specific scents from the list below and apply 2-3 times per day. It's best to rotate 3 or 4 of these so that you don't habituate and maximize the stimulation.

Place about 3 drops of each essential oil on a cotton ball and place the cotton ball in a dark jar. You can label the bottom of the jar so you can find out if you correctly identified the smell.

Close one nostril so that the nostril on the same side as the side of the brain you want to stimulate is open for smelling. Quiz yourself to see if you can identify the different scents. You can also see if you can improve your sensitivity so that you can begin to detect the smell from further away over time.

🔗 Washable jar labels

🔗 12 pack of assorted organic essential oils

🔗 24 pack of small glass jars

🔗 Hypoallergenic cotton balls

The aim here is to stimulate post rotational nystagmus (PRN). You can do this if your vestibular system was found to be under-active on one side on your exam.

Spinning fast:

2 seconds per rotation at least 10 times, repeat until you can notice Nystagmus (beating) of eyes: 2-3 times a day

On your phone using the Optodrum app, use the black and white stripes:

Do this for 30 secs -1 minute: 2-3 times a day.

🔗 Optodrum app on the App Store

🔗 Optodrum app on Google Play

You can use the flashing sound alone at 54 beats per minute for 30 seconds to 1 minute:

You can also add the Photic Stimulation of the Flashing light using the same side as you used for the sound.

🔗 Metrotimer App

🔗 Brain Balance Music Store

🔗 Loop ear plugs

🔗 Cheap and cheerful ear plugs

Using altered glasses, look only out of:

You can do this for 30 minutes to an hour at a time.

🔗 Safety glasses for taping over according to the hemisphere you want to stimulate

Do circular movements, clap to match the sound of the metrotimer or metronome at 54 beats per minutes start at 20 reps, each week add 10 till get to 100 reps 1-2 times a day.

Using the same 54 BPM, tap your feet to the metronome sound, starting at 20 reps and adding 10 each week until she reaches 100.

Additionally, dancing is another great way to train rhythm through movement.

If you're interested in learning an instrument in order to train rhythm in your brain, there's a site called The Brainjo Academy, which is a lot of fun. It's a brain-based approach to learning an instrument for adults. It includes lessons for banjo, fiddle, ukele and piano.

🔗 The Brainjo Academy

🔗 Metrotimer App

🔗 The Interactive Metronome