Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): The Primitive Spiral of Reach and Recoil © 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) emerges around 18 weeks gestation and should be fully integrated by 6 months of age. Often called the “fencer’s pose,” ATNR is activated when the infant’s head turns to Read More

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) is a developmental reflex that helps a baby organize their posture and movement. It starts to show up between 6–9 months and integrates by 9–11 months. This reflex connects the movement of the head to the movement of the arms and

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. The primitive reflexes of the foot form a tightly interwoven system that anchors the body’s relationship to the ground. These include the Babinski Reflex, Toe Grasp Reflex, Achilles Reflex, and Stepping Reflex—each playing a distinct role in foot–core coordination, pelvic stabilization, and upright extension. While often treated as separate

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. The Achilles Reflex is a primitive freeze-based bracing pattern localized to the posterior ankle and heel. It emerges in utero and becomes structurally active in the later stages of the Core Tendon Guard (CTG) reflex, serving as one of its five primary fascial bracing zones. This reflex activates

First published on Down the Polyvagal Rabbit Hole, March 2024 © 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. Head Righting Reflexes are a set of midbrain-driven postural responses that emerge around 2–3 months of age and remain active throughout life, albeit in a more refined, voluntary form. These reflexes govern the body’s ability to

© 2025 J. Moffitt. Registered U.S. Copyright Office. Polyvagal Acupuncture®. First Published on Down the Polyvagal Rabbit Hole July 2025 The Startle Reflex is the earliest postural motor reaction to sudden sensory input, emerging in utero between 9–12 weeks gestation. It serves as a primitive survival mechanism, activating the reticular brainstem in response to unexpected