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Perhaps only partially related to what you're saying but human babies are born with some innate reflexes: https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id
by afavour 5y ago
Perhaps only partially related to what you're saying but human babies are born with some innate reflexes:
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=newborn-reflexes-90-P02630 https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=newbor...
Perhaps the most relevant to this discussion is the "stepping" reflex. It isn't really stepping but if placed in a standing-like position babies will often raise one foot, put it down, then the other. The most interesting part to me is that this reflex stops by two months. Makes me wonder if it's an evolutionary leftover from our days as monkeys or something like that. It's all so fascinating.
- the_af 5y agoAlso the grasping reflex: if you place your finger in the palm of a newborn's hand, she will grasp it. It works almost without fail with any newborn baby. After a few months it completely disappears: grasping is no longer a reflex but a voluntary act, and as often as not she won't be inclined to do it. I read that both failure to demonstrate these reflexes while newborn, as well as continued existence past a few months old, are signs that something might not be entirely right with the baby.
- patentatt 5y agoAnd it’s usually an incredibly strong grip! Seems like it could definitely be used to grab onto a monkey mother’s back, never thought about that!
- tigershark 5y agoThey can even swim safely underwater thanks to a reflex.
- l33tman 5y agoThese primal reflex arcs are suppressed by pyramidal circuits from the brain as they mature, essentially overriding them. This is one set of neurological tests of damage to the higher spinal cord/brain in adults; those reflexes can re-appear due to again limited inhibition.