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The jaw reflex: maturation in the neonatal period and childhood
1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Insights
The jaw reflex develops early in infants, becoming fully established by two years of age. This reflex is a key indicator for assessing infant neurological development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Neonatology
Background:
- The jaw reflex is a fundamental neurological response.
- Understanding its developmental trajectory is crucial for assessing infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the onset and maturation of jaw-reflex responses in neonates and children.
- To establish normative data for jaw reflex development.
Main Methods:
- Electromyography (EMG) was used to record jaw-reflex responses.
- The study included 54 neonates and children up to 15 years of age.
Main Results:
- The jaw reflex was elicited in nearly all infants by 35 weeks postconceptional age.
- Reflex latency decreased linearly with age in neonates and children under two.
- The reflex is anatomically established by 31 fetal weeks and fully developed by two years.
Conclusions:
- The jaw reflex matures significantly within the first two years of life.
- Jaw reflex development can serve as a clinical indicator in pediatric neurology.
- This reflex has potential applications in neonatal intensive care units.
Abstract:
The onset and development of the jaw-reflex responses were studied of 54 neonates and children in up to 15 years of age. Recordings were made with standard EMG equipment. The reflex response was constantly elicited in all but one child of 35 weeks postconceptional age. The latency times showed negative linear correlation with age in the neonatal group and in the children under two years of age. The anatomical basis for the jaw reflex is already established by the 31st fetal week, and the reflex is fully developed by the age of two years. Potential clinical applications of the jaw reflex to child neurology and neonatal intensive care are discussed.